The effects of Omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and everyday memory in individuals with psychological distress: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Azhar et al., 2026 | J Affect Disord | Rct

Citation

Azhar Wedad, Qadhi Alaa, ... Ghafouri Khloud. The effects of Omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and everyday memory in individuals with psychological distress: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2026-Apr-15;399:121055. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2025.121055

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Psychological stress, anxiety, depression, memory impairment, and poor sleep quality are prevalent issues that affect individuals' quality of life and overall health. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to have mood-regulating effects. However, there is lack of data on the effect of omega-3 supplementation on depression, stress, anxiety, everyday memory, and sleep quality on Saudi population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of omega-3 supplementation on stress, anxiety, depression, everyday memory, and sleep quality in individuals with severe psychological distress. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 64 participants with high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, memory issues and with poor quality of sleep with 32 allocated to the intervention group and 32 to the control group. The participants received either omega-3 supplementation (500 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA) or a placebo daily for three months. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using validated scales, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ). RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group regarding stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and memory outcomes (p < 0.001 for PSS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, PSQI, and EMQ). Between-group comparisons showed statistically significant reductions in post-intervention scores for the intervention group versus the control group. Regression analysis revealed strong predictive relationships between pre- and post-scores, particularly for stress and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 supplementation resulted in notable psychological and cognitive improvements, suggesting its potential as a safe and effective adjunct for managing stress, mood disorders, and sleep disturbances among participants with psychological distress. Further research should explore how individual responses are influenced by baseline inflammation and omega-3 status. CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT07157241.

Key Findings

Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group regarding stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and memory outcomes (p < 0.001 for PSS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, PSQI, and EMQ). Between-group comparisons showed statistically significant reductions in post-intervention scores for the intervention group versus the control group. Regression analysis revealed strong predictive relationships between pre- and post-scores, particularly for stress and depression.

Outcomes Measured

• sleep quality
• PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
• anxiety
• depression

Population

MeSH Terms

• Humans
• Double-Blind Method
• Male
• Female
• Dietary Supplements
• Adult
• Sleep Quality
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Stress, Psychological
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Memory Disorders
• Middle Aged
• Quality of Life
• Saudi Arabia
• Psychological Distress
• Treatment Outcome

Evidence Classification

• Level: Rct
• Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
• Vertical: omega-3-mood

Provenance

• PMID: 41461240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.121055
• PMCID: Not in PMC
• Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09