Good mood Omega-3 oil in fish
6 March 2006
by Richard Conan-Davies
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People with lower blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, commonly found in fish, were more likely to report mild or moderate symptoms of depression, a more negative outlook and be more impulsive. People with higher blood levels of omega-3s were found to be more agreeable. This is according to a study presented by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Dr. Sarah Conklin from the Univeristy explained that "A number of previous studies have linked low levels of omega-3 to clinically significant conditions such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse and attention deficit disorder," and further explained the difference in this new study saying that "… few studies have shown that these relationships also occur in healthy adults. This study opens the door for future research looking at what effect increasing omega-3 intake, whether by eating omega-3 rich foods like salmon, or taking fish-oil supplements, has on people's mood." The researchers discovered this by analyzing levels of omega-3 fatty acids in 106 healthy people's blood and comparing this to participants' scores on three accepted tests for depression, impulsiveness and personality. The amount of omega-3 circulating in blood reflects dietary intake of the fatty acid. The study did not require participants to make changes in their normal diet habits. |
People with higher blood levels of omega-3s were found to be more agreeable. image: clearlyexplained.com
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