Fish Oil May One Day Help Treat Alcoholism, Experts Say

A study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry recently announced that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may mute cravings for alcohol, as well as improve mood.It’s in pills, gel-caps and over-the-counter dietary supplements, and now scientists are saying that that it may soon be used to supplement traditional treatments for alcoholism. It’s fish oil, and it’s available nearly everywhere.

A study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry recently announced that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may mute cravings for alcohol, as well as improve mood. This may be happy news for the thousands of Americans who already take omega-3-rich vitamin supplements to maintain good heart health.

Using laboratory rodents, researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine found that long-term exposure to omega-3s reduced alcohol abuse among mice bred to be bipolar.

The study’s authors noted that these specially raised rodents will drink relatively large quantities of alcohol if given the chance, and that the presence of high levels of omega-3s in their blood appears to mute their cravings for the substance.

Though this treatment may seem a little far-fetched, plenty of research has shown that omega-3s may contribute to heart health and potentially reduce the risk of chronic diseases.