Written from the studies on PubMed, searched on 2026. nov. 11.. Every number below comes from a study listed under Sources.
The claim
Posts online say that omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) helps with bipolar disorder.
Where research stands
We found 83 published papers on omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and bipolar disorder. They were published between 1981 and 2026. 20 of them are studies in people. 18 of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 7 were studies in animals, and none was only in cells in the lab. 27 papers are reviews that sum up other studies.
- 20In people18 with a comparison group
- 7In animals
- 0Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) has been tested in randomised trials in people with bipolar disorder.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- A randomized trial of omega-3 fatty acids plus inositol versus N-acetylcysteine for the treatment of depression and mania in emotionally dysregulated youth age 5-17 with and without autism traits.2026 · J Affect Disord · Randomised trial
- Supplementation of Omega-3 Increases Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Decreases Depression Status in Patients With Bipolar Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.2025 · J Hum Nutr Diet · Randomised trial
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention of relapse in patients with stable bipolar disorder: A 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial.2024 · Psychiatry Res · Randomised trial
- The effects of omega 3 fatty acids on the serum concentrations of pro inflammatory cytokines anddepression status in patients with bipolar disorder: A randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.2023 · J Res Med Sci · Randomised trial
- Fish oil supplementation alters emotion-generated corticolimbic functional connectivity in depressed adolescents at high-risk for bipolar I disorder: A 12-week placebo-controlled fMRI trial.2022 · Bipolar Disord · Randomised trial
- Emotion-Related Network Reorganization Following Fish Oil Supplementation in Depressed Bipolar Offspring: An fMRI Graph-Based Connectome Analysis.2021 · J Affect Disord · Randomised trial
- A 52-week prophylactic randomised control trial of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in bipolar disorder.2021 · Bipolar Disord · Randomised trial
- Moody kids years later: Long-term outcomes of youth from the Omega-3 and therapy (OATS) studies.2021 · J Affect Disord · Randomised trial
- Effects of Fish Oil Monotherapy on Depression and Prefrontal Neurochemistry in Adolescents at High Risk for Bipolar I Disorder: A 12-Week Placebo-Controlled Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Trial.2020 · J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol · Study in people
- A potential role for adjunctive omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for depression and anxiety symptoms in recent onset psychosis: Results from a 16 week randomized placebo-controlled trial for participants concurrently treated with risperidone.2019 · Schizophr Res · Study in people
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Symptoms: A Narrative Review of the Current Clinical Evidence.2025 · Mar Drugs · Review
- Omega-3 fatty acids for treating residual depressive symptoms in adult patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trials.2021 · Bipolar Disord · Review
- Effects of Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Main Dimensions of Psychopathology.2020 · Int J Mol Sci · Review
- The Psychoneuroimmunological Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.2017 · Adv Mind Body Med · Review
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Bipolar Disorder: A Review of Biomarker and Treatment Studies.2016 · J Clin Psychiatry · Review
- Detection and treatment of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in psychiatric practice: Rationale and implementation.2016 · Lipids Health Dis · Review
- Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation with lithium and aripiprazole for improving the balance of circulating hormones and brain neurotransmitters in manic mice model.2018 · Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol · In animals
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Mood Stabilizers Alter Behavioural and Energy Metabolism Parameters in Animals Subjected to an Animal Model of Mania Induced by Fenproporex.2017 · Mol Neurobiol · In animals
- Combination of omega-3 Fatty acids, lithium, and aripiprazole reduces oxidative stress in brain of mice with mania.2014 · Biol Trace Elem Res · In animals
- Omega-3 fatty acids alter behavioral and oxidative stress parameters in animals subjected to fenproporex administration.2014 · Metab Brain Dis · In animals
- Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency augments amphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in adult mice: prevention by chronic lithium treatment.2008 · J Psychiatr Res · In animals
- Chronic carbamazepine decreases the incorporation rate and turnover of arachidonic acid but not docosahexaenoic acid in brain phospholipids of the unanesthetized rat: relevance to bipolar disorder.2006 · Biol Psychiatry · In animals
- Docosahexaenoic acid modulates myo-inositol and myo-inositol biosynthetic genes expression: implications for bipolar disorder.2026 · Pharmacol Rep · Other paper
- Addressing methodological concerns in omega-3 trial for bipolar disorder relapse prevention.2024 · Psychiatry Res · Other paper
- Assessment of causal relationships between omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a 2-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization study.2023 · Food Funct · Other paper
- Familial risk for bipolar I disorder is associated with erythrocyte omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficits in youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.2022 · Psychiatry Res · Other paper
