Omega 3 & Depression (2007)
The study investigated omega 3 & depression. In a small study, specific areas of the brains of deceased patients who had suffered from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) were compared with the brains of ‘age-matched normal controls’. The omega-3 fatty acid DHA was significantly different (-22%) in the brains of the individuals with depression, compared to the normal controls. Interestingly, there was a greater difference when comparing the female brains than when comparing the male brains. This study suggests that DHA deficiency may be a contributory factor in depressive disorders, particularly in females.
McNamara RK et al., Selective deficits in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in the postmortem orbitofrontal cortex of patients with major depressive disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Jul 1;62(1):17-24.