Omega-3 Fats Reduce Feelings of Anger, Which Can Cause Relapse, For Drug and Alcohol Abusers
Comment: This study showed that a 3,000 mg daily dose of omega-3 fats (found in fish oil) could cause greater than a 60 percent reduction in feelings of anger for alcoholics and drug abusers. After three months the subjects quit taking fish oil. A measurable reduction in anger scores continued for another three months.
Feelings of anger can precede complusive drug or alcohol abuse. This study indicates that 3,000 mg of omega-3 fat supplementation per day might reduce feelings of anger. Could this help recovering alcoholics and drug abusers stay sober?
A 3,000 mg dose of the essential omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA generally requires five to ten 1,000 mg fish oil capsules twice per day. Most brands of fish oil capsules generally contain between 300 and 600 mg of the two omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA per 1,000 mg capsule .
To arrive at the number of capsules a specific brand requires to get the 3,000 mg dose, add up the amount of EPA to DHA per capsule. Divide 3,000 mg per day by that number to find out how many capsules are required.
Considering the dose-dependent effect of all nutrients, it is unlikely that lower doses would produce the same or as much effect.
While this is a high dose of omega-3 fats, I find no data that indicates that this is not safe for healthy adults. People who are using blood thinners should talk with their doctor about the use of high dose omega-3 fats.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis is that since high dose omega-3 fats can reduce feelings of anxiety they might improve the brain's logic center (the frontal cortex) control of what a person decides to do. Then the frontal cortex can take control away from the manic-compulsive "reward" part of the brain (the limbic system), yielding more sane, logical decisions, such as choosing to not abuse drugs or alcohol.
Buydens-Branchey L, Branchey M. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease feelings of anger in substance abusers. Psychiatry Res. 2008 Jan 15;157(1-3):95-104. Epub 2007 Sep 27. Abstract: It has been suggested that low levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a role in the pathophysiology of some psychiatric disorders. In light of the existence of strong associations between high-frequency and high-severity aggressive behaviors and substance use disorders and of our observation that substance abusers have poor dietary habits, the possibility that the administration of supplements of n-3 PUFAs would decrease their anger levels was explored. A lifelong history of aggressive behaviors and problems with the law was obtained in 24 patients. Thirteen patients received on a daily basis capsules containing 3 g of n-3 PUFAs (EPA+DHA). Eleven patients received placebo capsules. The trial was double-blind, randomized, and lasted 3 months. An anger scale was administered at baseline and every month thereafter. Six PUFA group patients and eight placebo group patients were followed for an additional 3 months after treatment discontinuation. Four patients in each group had a history of assaultive behavior. The baseline fish and n-3 PUFA intakes of these eight patients were significantly lower than those of the non-aggressive patients. When given for 3 months, n-3 PUFAs were superior to placebo in diminishing anger scores. Scores remained decreased for 3 months following treatment discontinuation. These data provide further support for emerging evidence indicating that supplementation with long-chain n-3 PUFAs could be beneficial in the treatment of some individuals with aggressive tendencies. |