December 2006

Fish oil may reduce substance abuse anxieties

A fish oil supplement may reduce anxiety measures in men with a history of substance abuse, according to a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial published in an issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (vol. 26(6), pages 661-665).

Deficiencies in omega-3 are associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions, including depression, aggression, attention deficit, and others. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate benefits from fish oil in adults with anxiety.

Thirteen men were given five capsules per day of fish oil 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 (eicosapentaenoic acid), 100 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), 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 ProEPA/EPA. No changes were seen among the placebo group patients. Furthermore, anxiety scores remained low in the sub-group who had taken the fish oil when followed for the additional three months.

The fish oil used in the study was Nordic Naturals ProEPA/EPA.

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