Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    Written by:
    Daryl Nault

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: September 26, 2023

    Omega-3 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. That means humans must consume them through their diet from sources like fish, seafood, walnuts, and flaxseeds. Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties and are crucial for brain development and cardiovascular health.

    This page overlaps with our Fish Oil page, and the two will be merged in the coming months.

    4 references on this page
    86,660 participants in 3 trials and 19 meta-analyses

    Examine Database: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    Depression
    Obesity
    Type 2 Diabetes
    Overweight
    Alzheimer’s Disease
    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    High Blood Pressure
    High Cholesterol
    Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Heart Failure
    Major Depressive Disorder
    Mental Resilience
    Metabolic Health
    Mood Improvement
    Pregnancy And Delivery Health
    Premature Birth
    Sleep Health
    Uremic Pruritus

    Update History

    Examine Database References

    1. Interleukin 6 - Ibrahim Mohialdeen Gubari MEffect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on markers of inflammation and endothelial function in patients with chronic heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand).(2024 Jun 30)
    2. Anxiety Symptoms - Bafkar N, Zeraattalab-Motlagh S, Jayedi A, Shab-Bidar SEfficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation for anxiety symptoms: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.BMC Psychiatry.(2024 Jun 18)
    3. Depression Symptoms - Appleton KM, Sallis HM, Perry R, Ness AR, Churchill ROmega-3 fatty acids for depression in adultsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2015 Nov 5)
    4. Depression Symptoms - Christos F Kelaiditis, E Leigh Gibson, Simon C DyallEffects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on reducing anxiety and/or depression in adults; A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.(2023 Apr 2)
    5. Depression Symptoms - Kong L, Zhang Q, Wang H, Xu Y, Xu C, Chen Y, Lu J, Hu SExploration of the optimized portrait of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in treating depression: A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.J Affect Disord.(2025 Jun 15)
    6. Depression Symptoms - Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer IOmega-3 for bipolar disorder: meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depressionJ Clin Psychiatry.(2011 Aug 9)
    7. Depression Symptoms - Katherine M Appleton, Philip D Voyias, Hannah M Sallis, Sarah Dawson, Andrew R Ness, Rachel Churchill, Rachel PerryOmega-3 fatty acids for depression in adultsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2021 Nov 24)
    8. Itching - Alqahtani S, Bakhamees BH, Almalki FM, Alshaer AB, Altaymani AF, Alazmi MM, Almutlaq KA, Albalawi AM, Alfaqih AA, Abdullah R, Alnashri AH, Ebrahim AM, Alghofaili JEfficacy and Safety of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Ameliorating Pruritus in Adult Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Cureus.(2024 Aug)
    9. Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) - Muzammil K, Khaleel AQ, Merza MS, Kyada A, Ariffin IA, Verma S, Kaur H, Hasaanzadeh SThe effects of ω-3 fatty acids on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials.Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat.(2024 Sep 5)
    10. Glycemic Control - Akinkuolie AO, Ngwa JS, Meigs JB, Djoussé LOmega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and insulin sensitivity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsClin Nutr.(2011 Sep 7)
    11. Cardiovascular Disease Mortality - Dwiputra B, Ambari AM, Desandri DR, Purwowiyoto BS, Radi B, Pandhita BAW, Fatrin S, Santoso AThe Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Heart Failure Outcome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trial.J Lipid Atheroscler.(2024 May)
    12. Cognition - Kalamara TV, Dodos K, Georgakopoulou VE, Fotakopoulos G, Spandidos DA, Kapoukranidou DCognitive efficacy of omega‑3 fatty acids in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.Biomed Rep.(2025 Apr)
    13. Sleep Efficiency - Shimizu K, Kuramochi Y, Hayamizu KEffect of omega-3 fatty acids on sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Clin Biochem Nutr.(2024 Nov 1)
    14. Muscle Mass - Alblaji M, Gray SR, Westrop S, Malkova DEffects of Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation During Caloric Restriction on Body Composition in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Food Sci Nutr.(2025 Apr)
    15. Quality of Life - Yu H, Su X, Lei T, Zhang C, Zhang M, Wang Y, Zhu L, Liu JEffect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis.(2021 Sep 23)
    16. Infant Death Risk - Serra R, Peñailillo R, Monteiro LJ, Monckeberg M, Peña M, Moyano L, Brunner C, Vega G, Choolani M, Illanes SESupplementation of Omega 3 during Pregnancy and the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients.(2021-May-18)
    17. Total cholesterol - Khorshidi M, Hazaveh ZS, Alimohammadi-Kamalabadi M, Jamshidi S, Moghaddam OM, Olang B, Hatefi S, Hosseini A, Jamilian P, Zarezadeh M, Kohansal P, Heshmati J, Jamilian P, Sayyari AEffect of omega-3 supplementation on lipid profile in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Nutr J.(2023-Feb-10)
    18. Anxiety Symptoms - Jahangard L, Sadeghi A, Ahmadpanah M, Holsboer-Trachsler E, Sadeghi Bahmani D, Haghighi M, Brand SInfluence of adjuvant omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids on depression, sleep, and emotion regulation among outpatients with major depressive disorders - Results from a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trialJ Psychiatr Res.(2018 Dec)