Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Fatty acid supplements, particularly omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been investigated for their potential role in supporting or treating bipolar mood disorder. Several clinical trials and meta-analyses have explored whether omega-3 supplementation can help stabilize mood or reduce depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder. Some early studies suggested a modest benefit, particularly for depressive symptoms rather than manic episodes. For example, a small randomized controlled trial by Stoll et al. (1999) found that omega-3 supplementation improved mood stability in patients with bipolar disorder. However, subsequent and larger trials have produced mixed results, and systematic reviews (including a 2016 Cochrane review) generally conclude that the evidence is inconsistent and effect sizes are small or not statistically significant. The proposed mechanisms include anti-inflammatory effects and modulation of cell membrane fluidity in neurons. While there is ongoing scientific interest and some supporting studies, fatty acid supplementation is not a standard or first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. It is sometimes used as an adjunct, but the overall quality of evidence is moderate to low, and more research is needed to clarify its efficacy. Therefore, the use of fatty acid supplements in bipolar disorder has some scientific basis but is not strongly validated by high-quality evidence.

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