Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on July 14, 2011
In a new study, Ohio State researchers discovered consumption of fish oil reduced inflammation and anxiety among a group of healthy young people.
Researchers believe the findings suggest the elderly and people at high risk for certain diseases may benefit from similar dietary supplements.
The research is published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity and is the latest from more than three decades of research into links between psychological stress and immune response.
The benefits from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been debated for the last 30 years.
Earlier research suggested that the compounds might play a role in reducing the level of cytokines in the body, compounds that promote inflammation, and perhaps even reduce depression.
According to researchers, psychological stress has repeatedly been shown to increase cytokine production. Thus, researchers initiated the study to discover if increasing omega-3 might mitigate that process, reducing inflammation.
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