Five year ago , a group of researchers published an extremely promising piece of research : dietetical subjunction of omega-3 fatty acid successfully stave in off a first sequence of a psychotic disorderliness for up to one year in those at high risk of infection of explicate psychosis . Now , follow on from this , the same squad has demonstrated that this unsubdivided intervention can exert prolonged issue , importantly reducing the luck of progress to schizophrenia seven years after supplementation .
While the words “ dietary supplementation ” may peal alarm gong for some , the researchers have a profound basis for their choice of intervention . Someomega-3 fatty dot , namely long - chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) , are crucial factor of nerve cadre and wreak cardinal roles in brain development and social structure . Moreover , deficiencies of these fatty acids have been respect in affected role with various mental wellness circumstance , including schizophrenia , and supplementation has even been indicate to reduce psychotic symptoms .
Since current treatments for schizophrenic disorder can only relieve symptoms , andomega-3 PUFAsare moot dependable and broadly speaking good for wellness , scientist adjudicate to enquire their potential as a possible preventative measuring rod . Although exam can not assert who will and will not develop schizophrenia , over the years scientists have identified a clinical syndrome characterized by various signs and symptoms that is associated with an extremely gamy risk of infection of develop a psychotic disorder . These “ ultra - gamey risk ” standard tend to step by step manifest throughout adolescence and have helped clinicians identify young masses who are likely to transition to psychosis .
Given that other intervention is broadly speaking associated with unspoilt result , scientists from the University of Melbourne settle to inquire whether omega-3 PUFA supplement in these high - hazard person could forestall progression to psychotic disorderliness . The first stage of their research began almost 10 years ago when they enrolled 81 participants between the ages of 13 and 25 into a clinical trial run . Half the individuals received omega-3 PUFAs for 12 weeks , and the others received placebo . They found that the intervention successfully prevent a first episode of psychotic disorder for up to one year .
Now , as described inNature Communications , the researchers have evidence the longer - condition benefits of this supplementation , postdate 71 of the original group for a median value of 6.7 years . While 40 % of those in the placebo group develop psychosis during the follow - up , the conversion rate was less than 10 % in those that receive the omega-3 PUFAs . moreover , oncoming of psychosis tended to be more gradual in those in the interposition group , and fewer psychiatric disorders in general were report in these individuals throughout the study .
Although the cogitation was belittled , these encouraging results do seem to indicate that omega-3 supplementation could represent a viable scheme to forbid the onrush of psychosis in untried , extremist - mellow - risk of exposure individual . As a simple and sleazy intercession with no clinically relevant side effects , the field seems definitely worth pursuing , peculiarly since possible underlie mechanisms remain unclear .
