Daily Omega-3 Supplements Can Change Your Behavior, Scientists Find

Your daily supplements can change your behavior, especially those containing omega-3.

About one in 13 American adults take omega-3-rich fish oil supplements on a semi-regular basis, according to surveys by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Historically, these supplements have been promoted for their purported benefits that protect heart health, although the jury is still out on their efficacy. However, the omega-3 fatty acids within these supplements also play a critical role in our brain.

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Previous research has suggested that poor nutrition may be a risk factor for aggressive or violent behavior. So can omega-3 supplements help reduce these problem behaviors?

In a new study from the University of Pennsylvania, psychiatrists Adrian Raine and Lia Brodrick analyzed 29 randomized controlled trials looking at the effects of omega-3 supplements on aggressive behavior across a range of ages, genders and treatment durations. The study was published in the journal Aggression and violent behavior.

Across all study groups — including a total of 3,918 participants — supplementation was associated with an average 22 percent reduction in aggressive behavior.

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“I think the time has come to implement omega-3 supplements to reduce aggression, whether the setting is the community, the clinic or the criminal justice system,” Raine said in a statement.

“Omega-3 is not a magic bullet that will completely solve the problem of violence in society. But can it help? Based on these findings, we strongly believe that it can and we should start acting on the new knowledge we have. . “

However, very few of the studies included in this meta-analysis followed up with their participants after completion of supplementation. Therefore, we can only draw conclusions about short-term changes in aggressive behavior. “The next step will be to evaluate whether omega-3 can reduce aggression in the long term,” the authors write.

It’s also worth noting that, in a recent study, fish oil supplements were found to be associated with an increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms and strokes in people with no known history of cardiovascular disease—while apparently lowering risk of heart attack and death. in those who already had cardiovascular disease.

More work is needed to confirm the risks and benefits of these supplements, and it’s always best to talk to your doctor before introducing anything new into your daily routine.

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