New Study Links Higher Omega-3 Levels to Lower Risk of Depression & Anxiety

Largest biomarker-based analysis to date clarifies role of EPA and DHA in mood disorders

January 22, 2025, Sioux Falls, SD: A new cross-sectional analysis published in The Journal of Nutrition provides compelling evidence that higher plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids—particularly EPA-rich, non-DHA omega-3s—are associated with significantly lower rates of depression and anxiety. The study, led by researchers a

t the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI), evaluated 258,354 adults with plasma fatty acid measurements and 468,145 adults with detailed fish oil supplement use in the UK Biobank, representing the largest biomarker-based mental health analysis of its kind.

Critical depression and anxiety outcomes were drawn from physician-diagnosed ICD-10 codes, not self-report—making these findings more clinically relevant. Statistical models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, smoking, diet, alcohol use, exercise, socioeconomic status, and other covariates.

The findings show that individuals with the highest omega-3 status (i.e., Omega-3 Index) had 15–33% lower odds of a lifetime history of depression and 19–22% lower odds of a lifetime history of anxiety, compared with those with the lowest levels. The non-DHA omega-3 fraction—primarily EPA—showed some of the strongest associations with reduced risk.

The study also found that fish oil supplement users had 9–10% lower risk of a history of depression or anxiety, and 20% lower risk of recent anxiety, independent of fish intake.

Study Highlights

• Higher plasma omega-3 levels (total omega-3s, DHA, and non-DHA omega-3s) were consistently associated with lower odds of historical depression and anxiety.
• Non-DHA omega-3s (a proxy for EPA) had some of the strongest inverse associations, suggesting a particularly important role for EPA in mental health.
• Fish oil supplement users showed significantly lower risk for depression and anxiety, independent of oily fish consumption.
• Oily fish intake was also associated with reduced risk, but with weaker dose-response relationships compared to biomarkers—likely due to limitations of dietary self-reporting.

Lead author and President of the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI), Dr. Bill Harris, said “Our findings from more than a quarter-million adults show a clear and consistent link between higher omega-3 status and lower chance of having a history of both depression and anxiety. When you consider the biological roles of EPA and DHA in inflammation, neuronal function, and neurotransmitter signaling, these associations make a great deal of sense.”

“This study adds significant weight to the growing evidence that omega-3 fatty acids—especially EPA—may help protect mental health,” Dr. Harris added.

“The strength of this research lies in both its scale and its use of plasma omega-3 measurements,” said Nathan Tintle, PhD, Co-author, bio-statistician, and Executive Director of FARI. “The biomarker data give us a much clearer picture than self-reported diet alone, and the consistency across multiple omega-3 metrics strengthens confidence in the overall conclusions.”

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Study Link:

Associations of Plasma Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels and Reported Fish Oil Supplement Use with Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the United Kingdom Biobank 

 

Media Inquiries:

Becky Wright

Marketing Communications Director, OmegaQuant

+1-201-675-0197

becky@omegaquant.com

 

About OmegaQuant:

OmegaQuant is an independent, CLIA-certified lab that offers nutritional status testing to researchers, clinicians and the public. OmegaQuant performs analysis in Sioux Falls, SD, for commercial and academic research collaborators, and for consumers interested in monitoring their nutritional status in both blood and breast milk. Its goal is to offer the highest quality fatty acid analytical services to researchers and to provide simple tests of nutritional status to consumers, with the ultimate purpose of advancing the science and use of certain nutrients to improve health. Internationally, OmegaQuant works with the University of Stirling, based in the Scotland, to help process blood samples from Europe. Learn more @ www.omegaquant.com

About FARI:

FARI was established in 2020 as a non-profit foundation that brings together nutrition scientists and biostatistical experts with strong publication records and expertise in fatty acids to accelerate discovery of the relationship between fatty acids, especially omega-3s, and health. FARI is currently the only organization focused directly on discovering and publishing research evaluating the health effects of individual fatty acids. Learn more @ www.faresinst.org