Omega-3 fats could help teenage boys feel less depressed, according to a new study.
Omega-3 fats, such as EPA and DHA, are thought to play a role in brain function, and many researchers have wondered whether increased consumption could lower the risk of depression. Researchers analyzed the diets and rates of depression in more than 6,500 junior high school students between the ages of 12 and 15.
Reuters reports:
“Based on questionnaires of food intake, and adjusting for factors including age and parents' education level, the investigators found that boys who ate the most [omega-3 rich] fish — the top fifth based on total consumption — had a 27 percent lower odds of being depressed compared to those ranked in the bottom fifth.”