Fish oil supplements offer many benefits, including a boost in mental health for patients suffering from depression and other illnesses. Now that claim has a new study to back it up. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago recently completed a review of previously published research on the antidepressant benefits of fish oil components eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The review was comprised of a meta-analysis of 15 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients with depression and results were presented at the recent annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 21 million Americans suffer from various mood disorders (about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population over age 18). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey has indicated that almost $60 billion was spent on mental healthcare treatments in the United States that year.
The fish oil analysis in the study indicated that DHA alone did not appear to offer any antidepressant benefits. However, patients taking EPA or a combination of EPA and DHA � such as the one found in Barlean’s Fish Oil Supplements -- experienced increased antidepressant benefits versus the placebo group.
One researcher said differentiating between DHA and EPA was the key to solving the medical mystery.
John M. Davis, M.D., one of the research professors involved, said, "Our analysis clarifies the precise type of Omega-3 fatty acid that is effective for people with depression and explains why previous findings have been contradictory.�
Omega-3 EPA and DHA continue to be among the most researched ingredients in fish oil supplements, with more than 14,000 studies in print on the subject. As continued research is conducted demonstrating the many astounding benefits of fish oil supplements, more and more experts emphasize the fact that both EPA and DHA from fish oil (such as Barlean’s Fish Oil Supplements) are important for a person’s overall health and general well-being.
