Fish Oil May Help Reduce Nicotine Cravings

Recent findings published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology show that fish oil could be helpful in reducing nicotine cravings. This omega-3 supplement was found to boost omega-3 deficiencies in many smokers--making it easier for them to chuck the habit.

"The substances and medications used currently to help people reduce and quit smoking are not very effective and cause adverse effects that are not easy to cope with," said lead study author Sharon Rabinovitz Shenkar, head of the addictions program at the University of Haifa's school of criminology department and of the psychopharmacology laboratory at Bar-Ilan, in a news release. "The findings of this study indicated that omega-3, an inexpensive and easily available dietary supplement with almost no side effects, reduces smoking significantly."

For the study, researchers found that long-term exposure to tobacco not only increased the risk of cancer, but progressive pulmonary and immune dysfunctions as well as cardiovascular and immune problems--thus, making it harder for people with omega-3 acid deficiencies to give up smoking.

"Earlier studies have proven that an imbalance in omega-3 is also related to mental health, depression and the ability to cope with pressure and stress. Pressure and stress, in turn, are associated with the urge to smoke. It is also known that stress and tension levels rise among people who quit smoking. Despite all this, the connection between all these factors had not been studied until now," Rabinovitz Shenkar concluded.