New research suggests that omega-3 supplements may be an effective tool in reducing aggressive behavior. A recent meta-analysis found that omega-3 supplementation can lead to a modest but significant reduction in aggression. Findings show a potential 28% reduction in aggression across demographics and settings. The findings are published in the journal Aggression and violent behavior.
The study was prompted by a long-standing interest in the link between nutrition and behavior. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish and fish oil supplements, are known to have a positive association with brain function. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential components of cell membranes and contribute to various brain activities, including neuron growth, regulation of neurotransmitters and gene expression, and support of nerve cell signaling. They also reduce brain inflammation and improve cerebral blood flow.
Previous research has shown a link between poor nutrition and behavioral problems, including aggression and violence. With these connections in mind, Raine investigated whether omega-3 supplementation could help moderate aggressive behavior. He has published five randomized controlled trials from different countries with important findings, but wanted to see if these effects were consistent across a wider range of studies.
“We have previously shown that poor nutrition is a risk factor for aggression. We had also done an early intervention involving two extra servings of fish each week that showed a 34% reduction in offending 20 years later. This led us to consider omega-3 as an active ingredient in that early intervention,” explained study author Adrian Raine, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime.
To explore this, Raine conducted a meta-analysis, which is a statistical technique that combines data from multiple studies to look for general trends. He and his colleague Lia Brodrick analyzed 29 randomized controlled trials that explicitly measured aggression. These studies spanned nearly three decades and included a total of 3,918 participants. The researchers selected studies that met specific criteria: they had to include human subjects, use omega-3 supplements, directly measure aggression, and provide enough data to calculate an effect size.
Studies were retrieved from seven different databases, including PubMed and Web of Science, and included a variety of populations, from children to adults and from community samples to clinical populations. The meta-analysis also examined various moderators, such as age, gender, dosage and duration of treatment, to understand how these factors may affect the effectiveness of omega-3 in reducing aggression.
The meta-analysis found that omega-3 supplementation leads to a modest reduction in aggression. The overall reduction in aggression was 16.2% when considering independent samples, and this increased slightly to 20.4% and 27.8% when considering independent studies and laboratories, respectively. These consistent percentages suggest that omega-3 supplementation may be broadly effective in different populations and settings.
“We had thought there would be a dose effect, with greater benefits as omega-3s increased, but we didn’t find that,” Raine told PsyPost. “Even modest omega-3 supplementation appears to be beneficial.”
Interestingly, the study found that omega-3 supplementation was effective for both reactive aggression (impulsive, emotional response) and proactive aggression (planned, goal-directed behavior).
Another important aspect of the study is the lack of evidence for publication bias. The researchers used statistical tests to ensure that the positive results were not due to selective publication of studies with significant findings. This strengthens the validity of their conclusions and underlines the credibility of the meta-analysis.
The results provide evidence that “increasing omega-3, whether through supplements or fish, can help reduce aggressive behavior,” Raine said.
While the findings are promising, the study has some limitations. The effect sizes, although significant, are modest, indicating that omega-3 is not a cure for aggressive behavior. The study also only looked at short-term effects; more research is needed to determine whether the benefits of omega-3 supplementation persist over the long term.
“Omega-3 is not a cure-all for aggression,” Raine noted. “We estimate that it can reduce aggression by about 30%, so it’s clear that there are many factors other than food that are involved in aggression.”
Future research could explore the mechanisms by which omega-3 affects aggression. Since omega-3 plays a crucial role in brain function, it is likely that its effects on aggression are mediated by changes in brain structure and function. Neurocognitive assessments, brain imaging studies, and analyzes of neurotransmitter function may provide valuable insights into how omega-3 supplementation reduces aggression.
“We have shown that omega-3 supplements for prisoners can reduce aggressive and antisocial behavior in prison, but can it reduce recidivism?” Raine said. “We have pilot data showing that it can, but we need long-term randomized controlled trials to test this further.”
“Given the additional psychological and physical benefits of omega-3 supplementation and the ease of implementation, we believe the time has come to both implement omega-3 supplementation in practice and also continue to scientifically investigate its long-term efficacy.”
The study, “Omega-3 supplementation reduces aggressive behavior: A meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials,” was published online May 19, 2024.
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