Table of contents:
- Who is susceptible to schizophrenia?
- Fish oil vitamins can reduce the risk of schizophrenia
- Why is that?
According to WHO, schizophrenia affects more than 21 million people from various parts of the world. Based on data from the 2014 Basic Health Research, 400 thousand Indonesians were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Like many mental disorders, schizophrenia can be treated with psychotherapy and prescription drugs. Fish oil vitamins are believed to reduce the risk of schizophrenia in susceptible people.
Who is susceptible to schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it difficult for a person to distinguish between the real world and the imaginary world. This is because the symptoms of schizophrenia often include psychotic experiences, such as hearing intangible voices, hallucinations, or delusions.
Everyone is at risk for schizophrenia. Until now, the cause of schizophrenia is not certain. However, there are several factors that are thought to have contributed to the development of this condition, genetics, trauma, birth defects that cause brain nerve damage or brain hormone imbalance, and / or drug abuse.
Schizophrenia usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, between 16 and 30 years of age.
Fish oil vitamins can reduce the risk of schizophrenia
Reported by Medical News Today, a study published in the journal Nature Communications reports that taking fish oil vitamins regularly for three months can reduce the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia in those who are young and are already at risk of developing this disease.
The study, conducted by the University of Melbourne, involved 81 study participants aged 13-25 years who were at risk of developing schizophrenia and psychosis. The participants were divided into two groups, 41 people were given fish oil supplements which were consumed for three months. While the remaining study participants were given a placebo (empty drug).
After one year, the number of study participants became 76 people. Of the 41 people given fish oil supplements, only two developed psychosis and schizophrenia. Meanwhile, the number for the placebo group was much higher, namely 11 people out of 40 people. The results of this study even remained the same even though it had been running for seven years.
Why is that?
Fish oil is produced from various types of fish such as tuna, mackerel, salmon and sardines. Fish oil is believed to have various health benefits because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce on its own. Therefore, you can get your omega-3 intake from eating fish or drinking fish oil vitamins.
Fish oil contains two polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and ekosapentanoat (EPA). Fish oil supplements also usually contain a small amount of vitamin E to prevent product damage. Some fish oil products are also combined with calcium, iron, or vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, or D and packaged as a multivitamin supplement. One fish oil supplement usually contains a dosage of 500-1000mg of EPA and DHA.
EPA functions to produce eicosanoid chemical compounds in the body that play a role in maintaining immunity and controlling inflammation. EPA is also known to help relieve symptoms of depression. Meanwhile, DHA is one of the main components that make up 8% of the brain weight, so this type of fatty acid is indispensable for brain growth and development. DHA can prevent damage to brain function, such as dementia.
Maintaining brain health is believed to be one step of changing a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing mental disorders in people at risk. Apart from the fish oil vitamins and eating fresh fish meat, you can find omega-3 acids in vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables, and seeds and nuts.
