Volume 29, Issue 161, July 2025

The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Prevention and Treatment of Mental Health Disorders - a review

Maria Mroczka^1♦, Kinga Świtała¹, Patrycja Pysz¹, Roksana Hrapkowicz², Agnieszka Czernecka³, Kinga Erazmus², Justyna Kuciel⁴, Dominik Tomczak⁴, Karolina Jałocha⁵, Marek Borecki⁵

¹V Military Hospital with Polyclinic, Wrocławska 1-3, 30-901 Kraków, Poland
²Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital, Os. Złotej Jesieni 1, 31-820 Kraków, Poland
³Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Kronikarza Galla 25, 30-053 Kraków, Poland
⁴Chrzanów District Hospital, Topolowa 16, 32-500 Chrzanów, Poland
⁵Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital, Zyty 26, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Maria Mroczka; V Military Hospital with Polyclinic, Wrocławska 1-3, 30-901 Kraków, Poland

ABSTRACT

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been extensively studied because of their therapeutic potential in mental health disorders. The objective of this review is to provide a synopsis of the current evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses on the efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs supplementation in depressive disorder, bipolar disorder(BD), anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The neurobiological mechanisms through which omega-3 PUFAs may provide their benefits are anti-inflammatory actions, modulation of neurotransmitter systems, enhancement of neuroplasticity, and regulation of membrane fluidity. In depressive disorders, several meta-analyses have demonstrated that EPA-dominant formulations can significantly alleviate depressive symptoms, particularly in individuals with a clinical diagnosis and severe depression. In bipolar disorder, the data are more limited and mixed, but some evidence supports the use of EPA-rich supplementation as an adjunct to mood stabilizers in reducing depressive episodes. In anxiety disorders, although results remain heterogeneous, recent meta-analyses suggest that EPA-rich omega-3 supplements, at doses around 2 g/day, may help reduce anxiety symptoms. Findings in schizophrenia are modest but suggest that early supplementation or use in high-risk individuals may offer benefits, particularly for negative symptoms. In ADHD, several trials indicate that omega-3 PUFAs may improve attention and behavior, with enhanced effects in those with low baseline omega-3 levels. In summary, omega-3 PUFAs supplementation shows promising results in the treatment of various mental health disorders, especially as an adjunctive treatment. However, the heterogeneity of study designs, study populations and dosages of supplements emphasize the necessity for more standardized, high-quality research.

Keywords: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mental health disorders, depression, anxiety, adjunctive treatment

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e117ms3595

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i161.e117ms3595

Published: 27 July 2025