Eating Fish and Mood Disorders

Improve your mood with fish. Depressed people may benefit from fish oil supplements that contain extra EPA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid.

A new study has found that, when it comes to treating mood disorders, some omega-3s may work better than others. If you are suffering from depression, taking a fish oil supplement that’s high in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might help. According to a meta-analysis presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting, people who took fish oil pills that contained more EPA than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) experienced mood improvements, while those who took supplements containing more DHA did not.

Though more research is needed, the findings suggest that depression relief from fish oil may come down to a specific ratio of the two fatty acids. The study also found that fish oil did not boost the moods of people who are not depressed. Though people with depression shouldn’t rely only on fish oil to relieve symptoms, taking a supplement with EPA may help. To get more EPA in your diet, eat fatty coldwater fish, such as salmon, sardines, tuna, trout and halibut.