Low-Dose Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements Ease Depression Among Elderly

A study by Iranian and U.S. scientists has found that symptoms of depression were reduced among elderly patients who took daily low-dose omega-3 supplements over six months. The 66 participants aged 65 or older were tested to determine their baseline mental states and levels of depression, then given daily doses of fish oil capsules containing 300 mg of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EHA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for six months. The researchers found a statistically significant difference in their depression scale scores at the end of the study period and concluded that “low-dose omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids had some efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate depression in elderly participants.”