Schizophrenia: fewer cases thanks to omega-3 intake

Omega-3-rich fish oil could prevent the onset of psychotic disorders in at-risk youths; in particular, three months of daily supplementation reduces the risk of progression to schizophrenia. These improvements also seem to persist even years after taking the supplements.

This was reported in a study conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne (Australia) and published in the prestigious journal Nature.

Omega-3s are components of neurons

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for neural development and function. As key components of brain tissue, particularly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), they play a critical role in brain development and function. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in abundance in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel but are also available in fish oil capsules, appear to increase the effectiveness of antidepressants and improve attention. Deficiency of these fatty acids could also be implicated in a number of mental conditions, including schizophrenia, one of the severe and most common. Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions and visual or auditory hallucinations. It is often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 35, and although it can cause disability early drug treatment appears to yield positive results.

After 7 years, the beneficial effects of omega-3s are still visible

In 2010 the same Melbourne University scientists published a study in which they had shown that 12-week supplementation with omega-3s could reduce the risk of progression into psychotic disorders for about a year in young people, aged 13 to 24, who were particularly predisposed. Specifically, as part of that research, the researchers had selected young people who were very vulnerable to developing serious mental illness, who had experienced transient hallucinations or delusional thoughts, or who had a family history of serious mental illness. On average, young people who fall into these categories have a 35-40% chance of developing schizophrenia, and nearly 7 in 10 will manifest other psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and addiction to various substances. In this new study, researchers complemented previous analyses by observing the same patients nearly 7 years after treatment with omega-3 supplements. 

The results of the new survey showed that only 4 out of 41 young people among those who had taken fish oil for three months had developed psychosis over the next seven years, compared with 16 out of 40 who had received a placebo capsule during treatment. Fifty-four percent of the subjects in the placebo group had also been prescribed antipsychotic drugs over the 7-year period, while only 29 percent of those who had taken fish oil supplements had needed such therapies. Of the placebo group, 83% of subjects over the years had manifested a psychiatric condition other than schizophrenia, while among those who had taken the supplement only 53% had received other psychiatric diagnoses.

Fish oil and psychosis: a relationship yet to be clarified

According to the researchers who conducted the studies, these results show that omega-3 supplements prevented the onset of psychotic disorders even 7 years after supplementation, and suggest the possibility of using polyunsaturated fatty acids as an alternative to early drug treatment, which involves several side effects. However, further studies will be needed to clarify the action of omega-3s on psychosis in highly predisposed young people. To stay up-to-date on the latest news from scientific research on omega-3s sign up for our newsletter. 

Source: Amminger, G. P. et al. Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study. Nat. Commun. 6:7934 doi: 10.1038/ncomms8934 (2015).