There is an ever-growing body of scientific evidence indicating omega-3 fats likely play a very significant role in depression. Unfortunately, because drug companies can’t really profit from omega-3 oils (non-patentable), I doubt you’ll currently find many physicians who understand the potential significance of such a simple intervention.

Just a quick stroll through the medical literature reveals the following interesting lines of recent research findings:

• People who are depressed have smaller amounts of grey matter in the cingulate cortex, the right amygdala, and the right hippocampus. Now, new research by Sarah Conklin from the University of Pittsburgh reveals that people who have higher blood levels of omega-3 fats have higher volumes of grey matter in these same brain regions.

• Last year, a study out of the University of Pittsburgh showed that those with lower levels of omega-3 fats in their blood were more likely to be impulsive and have a negative outlook on life. Additionally, those with higher levels of omega-3 fats were less likely to have mild or moderate symptoms of depression.

[Source: The 65th Annual Scientific Conference of the American Psychosomatic Society in Budapest, Hungary, March 7-10, 2007]

• Another study published in the December 2006 issue of Biological Psychiatry reveals that patients who had severe depression (i.e., MDD “Major Depressive Disorder”) had a deficit of DHA (the brain’s major omega-3 fatty acid) in the orbitofrontal cortex. The study mentions how prior research reveals that people who suffer from severe depression (MDD) have a deficiency of omega 3 fatty acids in their blood cells.

[Source: Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Dec 21]

• A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry reveals supplementing patients with suicidal behavior with omega 3 fats resulted in substantial reductions in this sort of behavior and improvements in well-being.

[Source: Br J Psychiatry. 2007 Feb;190:118-122]

• Another study published in the Journal of Affective disorders reveal that regular use of cod liver oil (which is rich in omega-3 fats) is associated with fewer symptoms of depression.

[Source: J Affect Disord. 2006 Dec 18]

• And finally, a meta-analysis (i.e., a review of many research papers) published in the December 2006 Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reveals “The preponderance of epidemiologic and tissue compositional studies supports a protective effect of omega-3 fat intake, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in mood disorders” (i.e., major depressive disorders). Furthermore, “meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials demonstrate a statistically significant benefit in unipolar and bipolar depression (p = .02)”

[Source: J Clin Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;67(12):1954-67]

Please note: I am not saying a couple of omega-3 pills a day will cure depression. Many patients do truly need antidepressant drugs. The neuroscientific literature does, however, strongly suggest these special fats do play a very significant role in mediating depressive disorders. While I’ve given a sampling of some of the most recent studies, if you go back further to 2005, 2004, etc…, you will find many dozens of papers supporting this view.

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