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Do fish oil supplements help depression in bipolar disorder?

Is there any evidence in support of fish oil supplements to help depression in bipolar disorder?

The evidence for the benefits of fish oil (or omega-3 fatty acids) in the treatment of depression is mixed.  Some studies show moderate benefit, and some show no more benefit than a placebo.  But no studies show harm from fish oil supplements, and (unlike antidepressant medications) fish oil supplements do not seem to increase risk of mania or greater mood instability.  We would like to have more evidence, but the evidence we have now indicates that fish oil is safe and may be helpful to some people in reducing symptoms of depression.

About the Doc

About the Doc

Greg Simon, MD, MPH, is a psychiatrist at Washington Permanente Medical Group and senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute well-known for his extensive research on practical approaches to improving mental health care. He seeks to develop and evaluate effective real-world strategies that support better mental health and wellness.  Current areas of emphasis include identifying and assessing suicide risk, improving care for treatment-resistant depression, and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care.