Omega-3 may prevent the early stages of schizophrenia from progressing into a full-blown disorder, a new study finds.
People suffering from schizophrenia are known to have high levels of inflammatory chemicals and reduced levels of omega-3 fatty acids, so researchers from Australia and Austria sought to determine the effects of administering omega-3 supplements to patients manifesting early stages of the disease, Live Science reports.
For their study, researchers examined 81 participants, ages 13 to 25, who were at high risk of experiencing full-blown psychosis in the next year. The subjects, at the time of the study, were already experiencing early symptoms of the disease, such as hallucination, delusions and hearing voices, but these symptoms only lasted a few days.
Forty-one of them were given omega-3 rich fish oil supplements with 700 milligrams of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 480 milligrams of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The other 40 were given placebo pills.
At the end of seven years, 40 percent of those who took placebo pills developed full-blown schizophrenia, while only 10 percent of those who took fish oil supplements did.
The onset of schizophrenia often starts in adolescence or early adulthood. It may begin abruptly or develop slowly, with the latter being experienced by most patients. People suffering from schizophrenia also die at a rate that is higher than non-sufferers – 10 years earlier than on average, mostly because of cardiometabolic conditions.
So far, no cure for schizophrenia has been developed, and most treatments are often directed at controlling the condition and its symptoms.
"There may be alternatives to antipsychotic medication in treating and preventing the onset of psychotic disorder," study co-author and University of Melbourne psychiatrist G. Paul Amminger said. "Omega-3 fatty acids are basically a stigma-free and even longer-term preventive strategy with minimal associated risks and side effects," he told Live Science.
It is not yet clear how omega-3 fatty acids helped prevent the progression of schizophrenia, but Amminger offers a theory: omega-3 stopped the cascade of inflammatory chemicals at the right time.
"One explanation is it puts you on a different developmental trajectory," he said. "So when you are able to interrupt this cascade, which leads to a full threshold psychotic disorder, it seems you don't experience the same amount of risk."
Amminger emphasized the need for more studies becuase this one only involved a small number of patients.
"Replication of the findings is needed. Several replication trials are underway," Amminger told CTV News.
He also said omega-3 rich supplements have "no clinically relevant side effects," making them "a benign treatment option."
However, he said patients should be informed that the "evidence (of its benefits) is limited."
The study was published Aug. 11 in the journal Nature Communications.
