Popular Supplement Reduces Aggression by 30%

Fish oil supplements rich in omega-3 have been praised for their heart health benefits for years. A recent study reveals they also help lower aggression. Researchers recommend these safe, common supplements be utilized broadly, from playgrounds to prisons.

Aggression can manifest as overt actions like verbal and physical violence, or bullying, as well as covert behaviors such as vandalism, property damage, arson, and theft. Both forms of aggression can harm relationships and lead to legal issues. Reducing aggressive behavior could benefit society in many ways, and this new study might offer a solution.

Omega-3 Supplements Reduce Aggression across All Demographics, Penn Study Finds

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) discovered that common omega-3 supplements effectively reduced aggression across all ages and genders.

Adrian Raine, a neurocriminologist at Penn and the study’s lead and corresponding author, stated, “It’s time to start using omega-3 supplements to reduce aggression in various settings, whether in the community, clinics, or the criminal justice system. While omega-3 isn’t a miracle solution for societal violence, our findings suggest it can make a difference, and we should begin to apply this new knowledge.”

Long-standing Connection Between Omega-3 and Violence Revealed in NIH Study

Omega-3 has long been intriguingly linked to violent behavior. In 2001, Dr. Joseph Hibbeln from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a study showing a correlation between high fish consumption (rich in omega-3) and lower homicide rates.

The following year, a University of Oxford study in the UK found that British prisoners who took nutritional supplements, including vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, exhibited less violent and antisocial behavior.

The current study aimed to determine if omega-3 supplements effectively reduce all types of aggression. Psychology differentiates between ‘reactive‘ aggression, a spontaneous response to a perceived threat, and ‘proactive’ aggression, which involves planning.

The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials that measured aggression in participants who took omega-3 supplements.

Study Targets Aggressive Behavior Specifically, Examines Supplementary Effects

They focused specifically on aggressive behavior, not broader traits like anger or hostility. Some studies included additional supplements like calcium and vitamin D, which the researchers considered as potential moderators.

The researchers observed a modest short-term effect from omega-3 supplementation, resulting in a 30% reduction in aggression across various ages, genders, baseline diagnoses, treatment durations, and dosages.

Significantly, omega-3 reduced both reactive and proactive aggression. However, the researchers were limited to short-term data as only one out of the 19 laboratories conducting the studies followed up with participants after the supplementation ended.

Omega-3’s Influence on Aggression Linked to Brain Function and Inflammation, Researchers Suggest

The researchers hypothesize that omega-3 impacts aggression due to its role in brain structure and function, neurotransmitter regulation, gene expression, and reducing brain inflammation.

They suggest omega-3 supplementation could reduce aggression by improving brain mechanisms that may be dysfunctional in some individuals.

Further studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of omega-3 on aggression and to use MRI scans to see if it enhances brain function. They also recommend investigating whether genetics influence omega-3’s effectiveness. Omega-3 supplements are safe, inexpensive, and widely available, posing minimal risk, including for children.

“Parents treating an aggressive child should know that adding an extra portion or two of fish each week could help,” Raine added.

The researchers advocate for using omega-3 alongside current psychological and psychiatric treatments.

“We argue that omega-3 supplementation should be considered an adjunct to other interventions, whether psychological (e.g., CBT) or pharmacological (e.g., risperidone), and that caregivers should be informed of the potential benefits of omega-3 supplementation,” they stated.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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