The Science Behind Omega-3 and Mood Regulation

While eating fish won’t make you instantly happy (unless you have a deep love for salmon like we do!), some research suggests that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish could help regulate mood. After all, salmon routinely makes the list of good mood foods that promote physical and mental health.

Omega-3 fatty acids are famous for their anti-inflammatory and heart health benefits, however, there is also interesting research supporting the use of omega-3 fatty acids for combating depression and improving mental health. So what is the correlation between omega-3 and mood?

The science behind omega-3 and mood

Omega 3 fatty acids belong to a group of fats called polyunsaturated fatty acid, or PUFAs. PUFAs are unique in their ability to bond with other compounds, which allows them to attach to and deactivate harmful compounds in the body like free radicals.

There are actually several types of omega-3 fatty acids, but the most important ones in the nutrition and health world are alpha linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fatty acids are critical for the proper functioning of our immune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.

ALA, EPA and DHA are essential fats, we need to eat them in order to survive because we don’t have the ability to make them from our body’s nutrient stores. The only way to have adequate amounts of ALA, EPA and DHA is to get it from our food or supplements.

ALA

About 85% of the ALA we consume from food is used to supply energy to our cells, and the remaining ALA is converted to EPA and DHA. However, our body’s ability to convert ALA into EPA and DHA depends on a number of factors.

For example, high consumption of omega-6 fatty acids (soybean oil, canola oil) can decrease EPA and DHA production. We also need adequate amounts of niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin C, zinc and magnesium to convert ALA to EPA and DHA.

The bottom line: even if we consume enough ALA in our diet, we may not be effectively converting it EPA and DHA.

EPA

EPA plays a critical role in helping our bodies fight inflammation. Once EPA is synthesized in the body, it is converted to a special messaging molecule called a prostaglandin.

Prostaglandins can both increase and decrease inflammation, which can have a powerful impact on your health. These molecules made from EPA have potent anti-inflammatory effects, which can help combat excessive inflammation and inflammatory diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune disease.

DHA

DHA is especially important for the proper functioning of our brain and nervous system. This omega-3 fatty acid actually accounts for 9 – 12% of our brains total weight! Studies have found that a deficiency of DHA is associated with impaired cognitive development in children, and increased incidence of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis in adults.

Can omega-3s help with depression?

According to observational studies, people who eat fish that is rich in DHA and EPA have a lower risk of depression and suicide. An experimental study also found that taking 2 grams of EPA per day in conjunction with standard therapy improves depressed mood, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and insomnia in people with recurrent major depression.

However, there are some inconsistent results from other experimental studies that found no benefits of fish oil supplementation for depression. Researchers suggest that these inconsistencies may be attributed to variations in study design, and we need more research to understand the relationship between omega-3s and depression and overall mental health. There is currently research going on at Harvard Medical School to examine whether omega-3 supplementation (alone or in combined with vitamin D) prevents depression in adults.

The benefits of fish oil supplements for managing depression likely depend on the specific concentration of EPA in the supplement and the degree of depression in the person. Preliminary clinical research suggests that fish oil is most effective in reducing major depression (versus mild-to-moderate depression), and only if the supplement contains at least 50–60% EPA.

We have a lot to learn about the mechanisms by which ingredients like fish oil act as good mood food. For now, researchers theorize that omega-3s might strengthen membrane structures in the brain and improve neurotransmitter transmission. This is an exciting topic that emphasizes the importance of omega 3 fatty acid and fatty fish intake on our physical and mental health!

How much omega-3 should you have?

Unfortunately, the recommendations for omega-3 fatty acid intake is not so straight forward either. There are several recommendations for intake of EPA and DHA from different scientific organizations.

• The National Academy of Sciences’ Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) level for ALA is 1.6 grams per day for men ages 19-70, and 1.1 grams per day for women ages 19-70
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends an average of 500 mg of total EPA and DHA per day. This would be approximated by having two 4-ounce (after cooking) servings of fatty fish per week.
• The American Heart Association recommends two 3.5-ounce (after cooking) servings of fatty fish per week.
• The World Health Organization recommends one to two servings of fish per week, with each serving providing between 200 and 500 mg of total EPA and DHA.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) working group recommends 220 mg each of EPA and DHA per day in a 2000-calorie diet.

We say keep it simple and opt for 2 servings of fatty, low-mercury fish per week. Most people eat way more than 4 ounces of any animal protein per serving, so if you follow this simple guideline you should be getting more than enough of your recommended needs. If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, or suffer from depression, heart disease, or autoimmune disease talk to your dietitian and doctor about options for omega-3 supplementation.

What are the best sources of omega-3s?

While these charts are a great reference for omega-3 content in commonly consumed foods, keep in mind that the omega-3 content of animals (land and sea) will be highly dependent on their diet.

Wild fish that feed on algae and sea plants will have a high omega-3 content. Farmed fish can also have a high omega-3 content if they are fed omega-3 rich food. Chickens that feed on omega-3 fortified food also produce eggs that are rich in this essential nutrient. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Database provides the following information:

Omega-3 and Mood: Sources of ALA

• Flaxseed oil (cold pressed): 1 tbsp = 7.2 g ALA
• Chia Seeds: 1 tbsp = 2.5 g ALA
• Flaxseeds (ground): 1 tbsp = 2 g ALA
• Navy Beans: 1 cup (uncooked) = 1.2 g ALA
• Hemp Seeds: 1 tbsp = 0.9 g ALA
• Walnuts: 1/4 cup = 0.8 g ALA

Opt for organic options of these foods whenever possible to prevent exposure to inflammatory pesticides. Bob’s Red Mill makes a great ground flaxseed meal that we use everyday. Just add 1 – 2 tbsp to pretty much any meal to get a daily dose of plant-based omega-3s. We also like to add 1 tbsp of organic chia seeds (we like this product by Nutiva) to smoothies for an omega-3 boost. These grab-and-go Chia Warrior bars are also an easy way to get some plant-based omegas.

Omega-3 and Mood: Sources of EPA

• Menhaden Fish Oil: 1 tbsp = 1.8 g EPA
• Salmon Fish Oil: 1 tbsp = 1.8 g EPA
• Sardine Fish Oil: 1 tbsp = 1.4 g EPA
• Shad (American): 3 oz. raw = 0.9 g EPA
• Salmon (Chinook): 3 oz raw = 0.9 g EPA
• Herring (Pacific): 3 oz raw = 0.8 g EPA
• Mackerel (Atlantic): 3 oz raw = 0.8 g EPA
• Salmon (Atlantic, Farmed): 3 oz raw = 0.7 g EPA
• Sardines (Atlantic, Canned): 1 cup = 0.7 g EPA
• Sablefish: 3 oz raw = 0.6 g EPA
• Anchovy (European): 3 oz raw = 0.5 g EPA
• Halibut: 3 oz raw = 0.5 g EPA
• Bluefish: 3 oz raw = 0.2 g EPA
• Trout, Rainbow (wild): 3 oz raw = 0.1 g EPA

If it’s not realistic or not a good option for you to incorporate good mood food like fatty fish as part of your regular diet, we recommend supplementing with a high quality omega-3. Nordic Naturals ProDHA is one of my favorites.

Omega-3 and Mood: Sources of DHA

• Salmon Fish Oil: 1 tbsp = 2.5 g DHA
• Sardine Fish Oil: 1 tbsp = 1.5 g DHA
• Shad (American): 3 oz. raw = 1.2 g DHA
• Mackerel (Atlantic): 3 oz raw = 1.2 g DHA
• Salmon (Atlantic, Wild): 3 oz raw = 1.0 g DHA
• Salmon (Atlantic, Farmed): 3 oz raw = 1.0 g DHA
• Spanish Mackerel: 3 oz raw = 0.9 g DHA
• Salmon (Chinook): 3 oz raw = 0.8 g DHA
• Anchovy (European): 3 oz raw = 0.8 g DPA
• Salmon (Coho, Farmed): 3 oz raw = 0.7 g DHA
• Herring (Pacific): 3 oz raw = 0.6 g DHA
• Bluefish: 3 oz raw = 0.4 g DHA

Work with a Culina Health Dietitian

A registered dietitian can help you integrate more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. Book a session today to learn more.