Written by Jessica Patella, ND. A 7 year follow up study revealed a diagnosis of schizophrenia in 9.8% of the participants who took omega 3 for 12 weeks compared to 40% of the participants in the control group.
Schizophrenia is a crippling psychotic condition with symptoms of delusions, hallucinations and cognitive decline that usually begin during the teen or early adult years (1). Omega-3 oils play an important role in brain function and development and have been shown to improve mental health (1). A long-term study has now shown that supplementing with omega-3 oils for a brief period of time during teen years reduces the risk of developing schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms (1).
The recent research included 81 participants (average age 16.4 years) with at least one symptom of psychosis (1). The participants were randomly assigned to either an omega-3 treatment group (1.2 grams per day) (n=41) or a placebo group (n=40). The participants took their daily supplement for 12 weeks and then discontinued supplementation. Participants were followed up for 1 year and 7 years after baseline. A total of 71 participants (87.7%) were successfully followed up for 7 years later (1).
After 7 years, a diagnosis of a schizophrenia occurred in 9.8% (4/41) of the participants in the omega-3 group and in 40% (16/40) of the participants in the placebo group (1). A total of 29.4% (10/34) participants in the omega-3 group were prescribed antipsychotic medications versus 54.3% (19/35) in the placebo group (1). The omega-3 group also had a significantly higher functioning than the placebo group at the longer-term follow up (P=0.011; based on GAF score = Global Assessment for Functioning) (1).
Participants in the omega-3 group also had a lower occurrence of Axis-I disorders. In the omega-3 group 52.9% (18/34) met the criteria for at least one Axis-I disorder, while 82.9% (29/35) in the placebo group met the criteria for an Axis-I disorder (1). Axis-I disorders include psychotic disorders, mood disorders (depression), anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders and eating disorders (2).
This was the first study of its kind to show a 12-week intervention with omega-3 oil could have long-term effects and decrease the risk of a psychotic disorder in young people at risk (1). It is possible that because the neural connections in the brain are still forming in the teen years, supplementation at this time showed marked improvement long term (1).
In conclusion, supplementing with omega-3 oil in young teens at risk for psychosis showed marked long-term improvement. Future research should include a larger age group to determine if improvement from omega-3 oil in psychotic disorders can occur in different age ranges.
Source: Amminger, G. Paul, Miriam R. Schäfer, Monika Schlögelhofer, Claudia M. Klier, and Patrick D. McGorry. “Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study.” Nature communications 6 (2015).
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Posted September 3, 2015.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Amminger GP, et al. (2015) Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study. Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8934
- American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC
