While omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have shown promise as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, the overall consensus about their efficacy across studies is still lacking and findings to date are inconclusive. No clinical trials or systematic reviews have yet examined if omega-3 PUFAs are associated with differential levels of efficacy at various stages of psychosis.

A systematic bibliographic search of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effect of omega-3 PUFAs as a monotherapy or adjunctive therapy versus a control group in adults and children at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis, experiencing a first-episode psychosis (FEP), or diagnosed with an established psychotic disorder was conducted. Participants’ clinical symptoms were evaluated using total and subscale scores on validated psychometric scales.

No beneficial effect of omega-3 PUFAs treatment was found in comparison with that of placebo (G = −0.26, 95% CI −0.55 to 0.03, p = 0.08). Treatment of omega-3 PUFAs did not prove any significant improvement in psychopathology in UHR (G = −0.09, 95% CI −0.45 to 0.27, p = 0.63), FEP (G = −1.20, 95% CI −5.63 to 3.22, p = 0.59), or schizophrenia patients (G = −0.17, 95% CI −0.38 to −0.03, p = 0.10).

These findings confirm previous evidence that disputes the original reported findings of the beneficial effect of omega-3 PUFAs in schizophrenia. Furthermore, accumulative evidence of the use of omega-3 as a preventive treatment option in UHR is not supported, suggesting that the need for future studies in this line of research should not be promoted.

To evaluate if n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and lipid levels are associated with episodes of self-harm or depression over a 10-year period.

We included 40 individuals who self-harmed and 40 controls. Episodes of self-harm and depression were ascertained and levels of depression, impulsivity, suicidal ideation and plasma lipid levels measured at baseline and at 10-year follow-up.

Further episode(s) of self-harm occurred in 26% of cases. Omega-3 PUFAs or lipids were not predictive of depressive or self-harm episodes. Baseline eicosapentaenoic acid levels were modestly correlated with suicidal ideation at follow-up and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were modestly correlated with motor impulsivity at follow-up in cases.

Despite significant negative correlations at baseline between plasma lipids, n-3 PUFAs and psychopathology, these levels were not predictive of clinical outcome over a 10-year period. Further research however is required due to the relatively low sample size and the risk of selection bias due to loss to follow-up in this study.

To evaluate pregnant women’s knowledge regarding the importance of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) consumption during pregnancy and assess their views on current information availability.

A 27-item demographic and food safety/behaviour questionnaire was administered to pregnant women during their antenatal clinic visits. χ2 tests were performed using SPSS.

Antenatal clinics at two regional hospitals in New South Wales, Australia.

One hundred and ninety (n 190) pregnant women.

Three quarters of the women had not received information regarding LC n-3 PUFA. Approximately half of the women were aware of issues relating to LC n-3 PUFA; however, their knowledge was limited, with most obtaining their knowledge from books and magazines. Women generally had low (30 %, 29 %) to moderate (28 %, 24 %) levels of concern about LC n-3 PUFA and mercury, respectively.

Pregnant women lack knowledge of LC n-3 PUFA and health-care services do not provide pregnant women with adequate information on the importance of eating foods high in LC n-3 PUFA during pregnancy.