fish oil - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Perinatal Depression: Maybe or Maybe Not

The omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), have a broad range of health benefits and may be beneficial for the treatment of mood disorders. Because during pregnancy omega-3 fatty acids are diverted to the developing fetus, some women may develop a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that pregnant women with lower levels of DHA may be more vulnerable to depressive symptoms. Several small studies have attempted to use omega-3 fatty acids to treat perinatal depression but have yielded inconsistent findings.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-07T14:43:16-04:00May 6th, 2013|Depressive Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The Basics for Clinicians and Patients

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-13T11:26:19-04:00September 21st, 2010|Alternative & Complementary, General, Treatment|Comments Off

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Depression in Women

An ideal treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) in women would be efficacious, safe, and offer broad health benefits. MDD is prevalent in women of childbearing years, and recent research underscores the risk of recurrence [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-12-11T12:39:30-04:00June 19th, 2009|Alternative & Complementary, Depressive Disorders, General, Treatment|Comments Off

Fish Oil and Postpartum Depression

One treatment that has recently received a great deal of interest lately is fish oil. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish and fish oil, including eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), have an antidepressant effect. It has been discovered that mothers selectively transfer DHA to their baby during pregnancy and through the breast milk to support neurological development in the developing child. Thus, child-bearing women may become depleted of DHA, and it has been hypothesized that DHA deficiency may make mothers more vulnerable to depression during the postpartum period.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-11T10:18:21-04:00February 20th, 2008|Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders|Comments Off