A new Cochrane review, published today in the Cochrane Library, gathered together data from 26 randomized trials involving a total of 1,458 participants. The trials investigated the impact of giving an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement in a capsule form and compared it to a dummy pill. In one study, involving 40 participants, they also investigated the impact of the same supplementation compared to an anti-depressant treatment.
The Cochrane authors found that whilst people who were given Omega 3 fatty acids reported lower symptom scores than people with the dummy pill, the effect was small and there were important limitations that undermined their confidence in the results. Their analyses showed that although similar numbers of people experienced side effects, more data would be required to understand the risks of taking Omega 3 fatty acids.