Supplement: Omega-3 can treat mild depression
Women are more likely to get depressed and distressed during the menopause – but it doesn’t mean they have to start taking powerful antidepressants. Instead, omega-3 supplements are an effective way of treating menopausal mental health problems.
Researchers discovered the effectiveness of the omega-3s when they tested them on a group of 120 women aged between 40 and 55, who either took three gels each containing one gram of marine-based omega-3, or gels that instead contained sunflower oil.
The women took the gels for eight weeks, and the omega-3 group reported a significant improvement in psychological distress and mild depression. Women who suffered hot flashes also noted that the problem was less regular while they were taking omega-3.
(Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009; 89: 641-51).