Fish Oil Fat Holds Promise as Mood Stabilizer

A fat that's good for the heart might also be a salve for the brain.

Omega-3 fatty acids, the fish oil fat long touted for heart health, might also help soothe the manic highs and depressive lows of bipolar disorder.

In a four-month pilot study, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital found that patients who received omega-3 fatty acid supplements in addition to their standard medications were four times less likely to suffer recurrent mood symptoms than those who received a placebo. An expanded study has been launched.

Bipolar disorder is one of the most prevalent of severe psychiatric illnesses, affecting more than 2.5 million adult Americans during their lifetime. Individuals with the disorder suffer cycles of deep depression and euphoria that might or might not be broken by periods of normalcy. Episodes typically last weeks or months.

"These extreme mood swings are very disruptive to work and relationships," said Dr. Lauren Marangell, a Baylor associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science.

- Courtesy of Baylor College of Medicine

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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