Is Fish Oil The Cure For Schizophrenia?

Americans spend $ 1.2 billion annually on the country’s third most popular dietary supplement; is it worth it? Recent studies have shown that Fish oil capsules can potentially provide a cure for Schizophrenia, a mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Seven years ago, a clinical trial using Fish Oil capsules as treatment was conducted and led to the discovery of an Omega-3 fatty acid that reduces the likelihood of youth developing psychosis.

The Cure for Schizophrenia Demonstrated In A Trial?

The trial lasted 12 weeks and included 81 participants between the ages of 13 and 25 suffering from symptoms of psychosis. Although proven to have successfully lowered the risk of mental illness for many, this treatment is still being closely examined. “Fish oil supplements have been investigated as a treatment for adults with schizophrenia, but so far results have been mixed – four trials found no benefit while another four found a small reduction in symptoms,” said Claire Wilson, writer for the Daily News.

Common uses of Fish Oil supplements are to reduce triglyceride levels and prevent heart disease. However, recent tests have shown that the blood cells of people living with schizophrenia contain a smaller amount of fatty-acids than those of the average person. “These fatty acids may normally help dampen inflammation in the brain and protect neurons from damage, and lower levels in the brain have been implicated in several mental illnesses,” said Wilson.

“Moreover, antipsychotic drugs tend to have serious side effects, including weight gain and sexual dysfunction. Fish oil pills have no serious side effects,” said Daniel J. DeNoon of WebMD Health News. Clozaril is the most popular and effective drug for treating Schizophrenia in the U.S. Side effects of this drug include “Drooling, drowsiness, dizziness,” whereas the side effects of fish oil consist of “a fishy taste in your mouth/fishy breath, stomach upset, loose stools and nausea.”

Recently researchers have followed up with 71 of the 81 patients who participated in the medical trial. 10 percent of partakers developed schizophrenia after all. As such, researchers believe the trial needs to be repeated multiple times before they can develop definitive results for using Fish Oil supplements as a cure for Schizophrenia or other mental illness.


Interested in more from Clapway? Check Out Clapway Trends for technology news: