Blue-backed fish oil helps reduce patients’ anxiety—Japan research

TOKYO — Blue-backed fish oil is effective at helping ease patients’ anxiety with certain mental diseases and cardiac infarction, among other diseases, researchers of the National Cancer Center Japan have announced.

Blue-backed fish such as sanma saury and mackerel contain rich omega-3 fatty acids.

According to the research team, some effects are seen when those with such diseases take 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day for about three months. One and a half sauries contain that amount.

There are some types of omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that decrease neutral fat in blood. They are less likely to clot than other oils at normal temperature.

As for the effect of supplements containing EPA and DHA on soothing anxiety, the team analyzed the results of 19 clinical trials that had been published in theses by March this year.

The clinical trials involved 2,240 subjects in 11 countries including Japan and the United States. The subjects included healthy people and patients with chemical dependencies, post-traumatic stress disorder, acute cardiac infarction and other diseases.

Those who took the supplements became less anxious, while before they had felt restless, or had a racing pulse and felt uneasy.

The effect of diminishing anxiety was found more in those suffering from the diseases than healthy people. The effective intake amount of omega-3 fatty acids was found to be 2 grams.