Depression, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Research has indicated that inflammation is one of the reasons for depression. The reviewed study is especially interesting since biomarkers of both inflammation and oxidative stress were measured in the 80 participants diagnosed with depression and also in the control group (Baek D., Park Y., 2013).

Levels of omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA which are the active ingredients in omega 3 fat, were measured in the red blood cells together with levels of omega 6 fatty acids.

Red blood cell levels of omega 3 fatty acids were found to be inversely associated with both markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, while omega 6 fatty acids were positively associated with inflammation and oxidative stress.

The same associations were found in the participants with or without depression.

This clearly shows that higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids are related to less inflammation.

Most people eating a regular diet get too much omega 6 fat compared with omega 3, a ratio indicating inflammation. Inflammation is a risk factor for all chronic diseases and just taking 2 capsules of fish oil daily can help reduce inflammation as long as the fish oil you take has high amounts of EPA and DHA. Click here to read about a fish oil which offers more benefits.