01.01.07
A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology is one of the first to demonstrate benefits of fish oil in adults with anxiety and a history of substance abuse, according to Nordic Naturals, Watsonville, CA, makers of the supplement Pro EPA/EPA. Deficiencies in omega 3 are associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions, including depression, aggression, attention deficit and others.
Dr. Laure Buydens-Branchey, psychiatrist, at the DVA New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY, completed this study. Thirteen men were given 5 capsules per day of ProEPA/EPA for three months. Eleven men received placebo capsules. A subgroup of men who had taken either fish oil or placebo was followed for an additional three months. Each purified lemon-flavored fish oil capsule provided 450 mg of EPA, 100 mg of DHA and 50 mg of other omega 3 fatty acids. A modified version of the Profiles of Mood States (POMS) was used to measure changes in anxiety. The POMS was administered at baseline and monthly to all subjects.
A progressive and significant decline in anxiety scores was observed among the subjects who were supplemented with the Nordic Naturals ProEPA/EPA. No changes were seen among the placebo group. Furthermore, anxiety scores remained low in the sub-group who had taken the fish oil when followed for the additional three months. According to investigators, these data suggest that long chain omega 3 supplementation may have additional benefits for mental health.
Dr. Laure Buydens-Branchey, psychiatrist, at the DVA New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY, completed this study. Thirteen men were given 5 capsules per day of ProEPA/EPA for three months. Eleven men received placebo capsules. A subgroup of men who had taken either fish oil or placebo was followed for an additional three months. Each purified lemon-flavored fish oil capsule provided 450 mg of EPA, 100 mg of DHA and 50 mg of other omega 3 fatty acids. A modified version of the Profiles of Mood States (POMS) was used to measure changes in anxiety. The POMS was administered at baseline and monthly to all subjects.
A progressive and significant decline in anxiety scores was observed among the subjects who were supplemented with the Nordic Naturals ProEPA/EPA. No changes were seen among the placebo group. Furthermore, anxiety scores remained low in the sub-group who had taken the fish oil when followed for the additional three months. According to investigators, these data suggest that long chain omega 3 supplementation may have additional benefits for mental health.