Nutrients Improve Brain Health

Fish oils, vitamin C and folate found to be more effective than antidepressants.

20:46 28 April 2016

An international study conducted by researchers from Melbourne University and Harvard has found that nutritional supplements, particularly Omega 3, have the “real potential” to improve mental health of millions of people. It also concluded that along with Omega 3, certain amino acids, folate and vitamin D are more effective than antidepressants.

 

Dr Jerome Sarris, who led the study by ARCADIA Mental Health Research Group at the University of Melbourne, said: 'The strongest finding from our review was that Omega 3 fish oil - in combination with antidepressants - had a statistically significant effect over a placebo,

 

'Many studies have shown Omega 3s are very good for general brain health and improving mood, but this is the first analysis of studies that looks at using them in combination with antidepressant medication.

'The difference for patients taking both antidepressants and Omega 3, compared to a placebo, was highly significant. 

 

'This is an exciting finding because here we have a safe, evidence-based approach that could be considered a mainstream treatment.'

 

'A large proportion of people who have depression do not reach remission after one or two courses of antidepressant medication,'

 

'Millions of people in Australia and hundreds of millions worldwide currently take antidepressants. 

 

'There's real potential here to improve the mental health of people who have an inadequate response to them.'