The effects of Omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and everyday memory in individuals with psychological distress: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Clinical Snapshot
PICO Framework
| P — Population | Adults with severe psychological distress, high stress, anxiety, depression, memory issues, and poor sleep quality in Saudi Arabia (n=64) |
| I — Intervention | Omega-3 supplementation (500 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA daily for 3 months) |
| C — Comparator | Placebo daily for 3 months |
| O — Outcomes | Stress (PSS), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), sleep quality (PSQI, ESS), and everyday memory (EMQ) |
Bottom Line
This small RCT suggests omega-3 supplementation (500mg EPA + 250mg DHA daily) may improve psychological symptoms in adults with severe distress. While the double-blind design and comprehensive outcome assessment are strengths, the study's clinical utility is limited by small sample size, lack of effect size data, and missing safety information. The statistically significant improvements across multiple validated scales are promising, but clinicians should await larger, more detailed studies before routine recommendation. Given omega-3's established safety profile, it may be considered as adjunctive therapy for motivated patients with psychological distress, particularly those with concurrent sleep issues. However, this should complement, not replace, evidence-based psychological and pharmacological interventions. The Saudi population focus may limit generalizability to Australian practice patterns.
Key Findings
P Value: p < 0.001 for PSS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, PSQI, and EMQ
Effect Size: Not reported in abstract
Primary Outcome: Significant improvements in all measured outcomes: stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and memory
Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not calculable from available data
Confidence Interval: Not reported
Clinical Application
High feasibility - omega-3 supplements are readily available, well-tolerated, and relatively inexpensive Omega-3 supplements are TGA-regulated complementary medicines in Australia. Results may inform RACGP guidelines for integrative mental health approaches, though cultural validation needed for Australian populations Adults with psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances seeking adjunctive treatment options
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Psychological stress, anxiety, depression, memory impairment, and poor sleep quality are prevalent issues that affect individuals' quality of life and overall health. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to have mood-regulating effects. However, there is lack of data on the effect of omega-3 supplementation on depression, stress, anxiety, everyday memory, and sleep quality on Saudi population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, everyday memory, and sleep quality in individuals with severe psychological distress. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 64 participants with high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, memory issues and with poor quality of sleep with 32 allocated to the intervention group and 32 to the control group. The participants received either omega-3 supplementation (500 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA) or a placebo daily for three months. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using validated scales, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ). RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group regarding stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and memory outcomes (p < 0.001 for PSS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, PSQI, and EMQ). Between-group comparisons showed statistically significant reductions in post-intervention scores for the intervention group versus the control group. Regression analysis revealed strong predictive relationships between pre- and post-scores, particularly for stress and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 supplementation resulted in notable psychological and cognitive improvements, suggesting its potential as a safe and effective adjunct for managing stress, mood disorders, and sleep disturbances among participants with psychological distress. Further research should explore how individual responses are influenced by baseline inflammation and omega-3 status. CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT07157241.
References
- 1.Azhar, W., Qadhi, A., Abusudah, W., Ghabashi, M., Aljaadi, A. M., Alyamani, R., Awlya, O., Almohmadi, N., Alsemeri, A., Felemban, A., Alturki, G., Almatrafi, L., Zafarani, R., Kamfar, Y., Azzeh, F., & Ghafouri, K. (2026). The effects of Omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and everyday memory in individuals with psychological distress: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. *Journal of Affective Disorders*, Article 121055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.121055
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