Fish Oil Boosts Brain Functions, Improves Mood?

A new study has recently found that fish oil that contains Omega-3 greasy acids can help boost mind functions and act as an anti-inflammatory in the body. It was also found that it helps athletes and soldiers manage intense training better.

According to Science Daily, researchers, including a Texas A&M University professor and his former doctoral student found that low concentration of fish oil in the blood and insufficient physical activity can add to the high levels of depressed mood, especially to those soldiers returning from combat. The study also stated that fish oil content is especially significant for soldiers because of the amount of consistent training and physical activities performed during and after combat, and risk for traumatic brain injury.

The research was conducted by Major Nicholas Barringer when he was a Texas A&M doctoral student under the supervision of Health & Kinesiology Professor and Department Head Richard Kreider together with several current and former members of the U.S. Army which accounted to 100 soldiers and colleagues at Texas A&M. the researchers wanted to determine the factors that affect the moods of those who returned from combat.

"We looked at how physical activity levels and performance measures were related to mood state and resiliency," Kreider says. "What we found was the decrease in physical activity and the concentration of fish oil and Omega-3s in the blood were all associated with resiliency and mood."

The study started from a research conducted by Colonel Mike Lewis, M.D. that analyzed the Omegga-3 fatty acid levels of soldiers who committed suicide, and compared it to non-suicide control. Researchers found that lower Omega-3 levels in the blood were connected to increased risk of soldiers being included in the suicide group, reported peoplemagazines.net. Researchers said that these findings are important in addressing the issues a lot of soldiers face.

"The mental health of soldiers is a serious concern and it is exciting to consider that appropriate diet and exercise might have a direct impact on improving resiliency," Barringer notes. It was also reported by Indian Express that Kreider and Barringer came up with a formula to properly measure soldiers physically. They also said that the formula can potentially help properly screen soldiers at risk for Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ahead. The formula measures a number of factors including fitness and psychometric assessments, physical activity, and additional analysis.

Meanwhile, Barringer said that through improving service members' resiliency, they can potentially lower the risk of mental health issues. "Early identification can potentially decrease the risk of negative outcomes for our active service members as well as our separated and retired military veterans," he added.

Kreider also noted that the military is using some of their exercise, nutrition, and performance-related work that can possibly help in identifying soldiers at risk for depression after they come back from combat. He said that this method can point high-risk issues experienced by soldiers, which can also benefit not just the military, but the general public as well.