About Omega-3 Fatty Acids

You may be asking: “Exactly what are omega-3 fatty acids? Are they important for health?”

Omega-3 Overview

Omega-3 fatty acids are one type of “essential” dietary fatty acids. This means that the human body needs them for health but cannot make them. We must get these compounds through the foods we eat.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found primarily in fatty fish, such as:

  • Salmon
  • Mackerel
  • Sardines
  • Herring
  • Lake trout
  • Albacore tuna

These compounds are also found in other seafood such as krill and algae, certain plants, and nuts.

Researchers are studying whether omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of heart disease, arthritis, and cancer by reducing inflammation in the body. The FDA has approved the use of fish oil for the reduction of high triglycerides.

Omega-3 fatty acids are concentrated in the brain and are necessary for proper brain function.  A 2006 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry looked at the combined results of studies of omega-3 fatty acids in depression.  You can read the study results here:

“Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Evidence Basis for Treatment and Future Research in Psychiatry.”

More resources and information on omega-3 fatty acids

For additional general information on omega-3 fatty acids, please refer to the following articles and websites:

Are you interested in helping advance the understanding of omega-3 fatty acids and brain function?

We are currently seeking participants for our research study. If eligible, you would receive $300 compensation, FREE medical and psychiatric evaluations (including lab work) and up to six months of medication treatment with Columbia Presbyterian doctors. Please call Katherin at (212) 543-5834 today to see if you are eligible to participate.

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Please note: No compensation is offered for either the telephone screening or the in-person visit. You must be enrolled in the research study to receive the compensation of $300, psychiatric and medical evaluations, diagnostic blood work, and professional treatment.

If you are eligible for the research study, we will explain all procedures, risks, and benefits of the research study and your rights as a research participant.

If you are not eligible for this research study, you may still be eligible for another study at Columbia University. We will refer you to other study resources.

Fish Oil and Depression

A number of scientific studies reveal that omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in certain cold-water fish, play an important role in the proper functioning of the human brain, and that people with depression tend to have lower levels of omega-3 in their bodies...[Learn More]

About Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are one type of “essential” dietary fatty acids. This means that the human body needs them for health but cannot make them. We must get these compounds through the foods we eat...[Learn More]

Scientific Research

The lead researcher, M. Elizabeth Sublette, MD, PhD, has authored several articles on the topic of fatty acids and mood disorders...[Learn More]