People with borderline personality disorder clearly benefit from taking omega-3 fatty acids. This is evident from the first large analysis by Roel Mocking and his team into the effect of fish oil on this disorder. In the case of (postnatal) depression, the effectiveness has been shown before. The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

For many years, the effect of fish oil on various psychiatric disorders has been suspected and described. Notwithstanding, the studies that have been conducted were too small to conclude the effect on borderline personality disorder (BPD). Mocking and his team performed a meta-analysis of the results of individual studies. This makes it possible to say something about the effects on BPS for the first time. They found that marine omega-3 fatty acids primarily have an effect on symptoms related to mood and impulsivity.

The fatty acids determine how well the connecting pathways between nerve cells function.

Dietary supplement

Existing medications for other psychiatric disorders sometimes work, however often insufficiently on people with BPD. The new study looks at whether dietary supplement omega-3 fatty acids work for BPD. Mocking states that there are different ways in which omega-3 fatty acids can have an effect on psychological symptoms. “The brain consists of fat and omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of it. The fatty acids determine how well the connecting pathways between nerve cells function.”, thus Mocking.

Treatment guideline

Mocking is in favor of including omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment guideline for BPS, as it is already done for depression. Though, he warns that people with psychological symptoms should not just take omega-3 fatty acids on their own initiative, advising consultation with a professional. The researchers state that there is insufficient evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can prevent mental disorders, only the effect on treatment has been studied.

Read the article in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry: Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Borderline Personality Disorder: A Meta-Analysis.