Omega-3 fats (found plentifully in oily fish such as sardines, salmon, and trout) have been said to have the potential to enhance health in a number of areas, including mental health. There is a fair body of evidence now that suggests that omega-3 fats are important in the functioning of the brain, including the maintenance of mood.
Omega-3 fats have been touted in pregnancy too, specifically because they are believed to help normal brain and visual function in the developing fetus.
Some pregnant women may supplement with omega-3 fats for this reason, though these women may get some benefits themselves in terms of mental function. The idea that omega-3 fats may have an anti-depressant effect in pregnant women was the focus of a study published online recently in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry [1].
Thirty-six pregnant women were randomly assigned to receive either 3.4 g of omega-3 fats per day or a placebo for a period of eight weeks, though only 24 women completed the study. The women were assessed for depressive symptoms at six and eight weeks after treatment started.
At both these points, women taking the omega-3 fats had lower scores of standardized ratings of depression. The response rate in these women was 62 percent (compared to 27 percent taking a placebo). At the study's conclusion, women taking the omega-3 fats had lower scores in an assessment of postnatal depression too.
This study was small, and ideally (as the authors point out), larger-scale studies need to be done. Nevertheless, the results of this study are promising, and suggest that omega-3-based therapy may be useful for combating depression during and after pregnancy.
Reference:
Su KP, et al. Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Major Depressive Disorder During Pregnancy: Results From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2008 Mar 18 [Epub ahead of print].
Dr. John Briffa is a London-based doctor and author with an interest in nutrition and natural medicine.
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