OMEGA-3 – HELP FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION.

A common medical condition that affects 10-15 percent of new mothers is postpartum depression. It can cause serious issues with a woman’s mental health. A new study out of Lysaker, Norway shows positive effects of omega-3 fatty acids on this condition. Subjects in the trial were randomized to 0.5 g, 1.4 g, or 2.8 g per day. Among all three doses, patients with postpartum depression improved substantially during the trial with scores on depression measures decreasing by approximately 50 percent. In addition, a larger, placebo- controlled trial for perinatal depression is now in progress at the University of Arizona. ( NPI Center, December 6, 2005)