Omega-3 (Fish Oil) Fatty Acids Reduces Anxiety, Which Can Cause Relapse For Drug and Alcohol Abusers
Comment: This study showed that a 3,000 mg daily dose of omega-3 fats (found in fish oil) could cause greater than a 60 percent reduction in feelings of anxiety for alcoholics and drug abusers. After three months the subjects quit taking fish oil. A measurable reduction in anxiety continued for another three months.
Feelings of anxiety can precede complusive drug or alcohol abuse. This study indicates that 3,000 mg of omega-3 fat supplementation per day can reduce feelings of anxiety. Can this help recovering alcoholics and drug abusers stay sober?
A 3,000 mg dose of the essential omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA generally requires five to ten 1,000 mg fish oil capsules per day, depending on the potency of the product you buy. Most brands of fish oil capsules contain between 300 and 600 mg of the two omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA per 1,000 mg capsule .
To arrive at the number of capsules a specific brand requires to get the 3,000 mg dose, add up the amount of EPA to DHA per capsule that's listed on the ingredients panel of the label. Divide 3,000 mg per day by that number to find out how many capsules are required.
Considering the dose-dependent effect of all nutrients, it is unlikely that lower doses would produce the same or as much of an effect.
While this is a high dose of omega-3 fats, I find no data that indicates that this is not safe for healthy adults. People who are using blood thinners should talk with their doctor about the use of high dose omega-3 fats.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis is that since high dose omega-3 fats can reduce feelings of anxiety they might improve the brain's logic center (the frontal cortex) control of what a person decides to do. Then the frontal cortex can take control away from the manic-compulsive "reward" part of the brain (the limbic system), yielding more sane, logical decisions, such as choosing to not abuse drugs or alcohol.
Buydens-Branchey L, Branchey M. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease anxiety feelings in a population of substance abusers. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Dec;26(6):661-5. There is mounting evidence that low levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a role in the pathophysiology of a number of psychiatric disorders. Preclinical studies have shown that n-3 PUFAs decrease anxietylike behaviors, but there is a paucity of information about their effects on anxiety in humans. In light of our observation that substance abusers have poor dietary habits and the strong association between anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, the possibility that the administration of supplements of n-3 PUFAs would decrease the anxiety level of a group of substance abusers was explored. Thirteen patients were given on a daily basis capsules containing 3 g of n-3 PUFAS (eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid). Eleven patients received similarly looking placebo capsules containing vegetable oil. The trial was double-blind, randomized, and lasted 3 months. A scale assessing anxiety feelings was administered at baseline and on a monthly basis thereafter. Six PUFA group patients and 8 placebo group patients were followed for an additional 3 months after treatment discontinuation and administered the same questionnaire monthly. Patients who received n-3 PUFAs for 3 months showed a progressive decline in anxiety scores. This was not the case for patients who received placebos. A comparison of the 2 groups was significant (P = 0.010). Anxiety scores remained significantly decreased in the PUFA group for 3 months after treatment discontinuation. A comparison of the 2 groups followed for 6 months was also significant (P = 0.042). In conclusion, these preliminary data indicate that n-3 PUFA supplementation could be beneficial in the treatment of some patients with anxiety disorders. |