Evidence of omega-3 fatty acids against depression and PTSD

Abstract

Psychiatrists in general hospitals usually manage mild or moderate cases of depression. Some guidelines such as those from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP) do not recommend antidepressants as a first choice for mild cases of depression. It is required to research other options for combating depression. Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most studied interventions among life-style based approaches. In this paper, we review the evidence for the efficacy and mechanism of omega-3 fatty acids against depression. Moreover, we introduce our randomized controlled trial to aim to attenuate posttraumatic stress symptoms by omega-3 fatty acids.