Urgent health warning as not getting enough of a nutrient found in 7p pill linked to psychosis in shock study

A growing body of research suggests that omega-3 intake helps regulate mood as it nourishes parts of the brain responsible for processing emotions.

Despite the clear cognitive benefits, Britons are not getting enough of the essential nutrient, found in oily fish and cheap supplements.

“Less than five percent of children in the UK achieve the basic recommended levels of fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake," lamented Doctor Simon Dyall, nutritional neuroscientist at the University of Roehampton.

“Even these recommendations are too low, according to the evidence regarding brain function. Many children and young adults eat no fish at all and have no omega-3 fatty acid supplements. The evidence is more than sufficient to recommend we take action now to protect their brains," he told GB News.

The latest research, published in Biological Psychiatry, tracked the blood test results of more than 3,500 participants over 17 years.

Researchers from Queen’s University in Belfast examined how blood levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as a specific omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), changed over time.

Of all the fats in the brain, the omega-3 fat DHA is the most important. It accounts for about 40 percent of brain fats, while EPA - another type of fatty acid - comprises less than one percent, nutrionist Patrick Holford, who was not involved in the study, tells GB News.

Working in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cambridge and RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the aim was to identify if, and how, these variations were related to the development of symptoms of psychosis in adults aged 24.

Researchers tracked the participants, who are part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), also known as “Children of the 90s”, from childhood into adulthood.

The fatty acid levels were measured in the blood tests collected from the participants throughout their lives, at the specific ages of seven, 15, 17 and 24.

The findings revealed that those with persistently higher levels of omega-6 compared to omega-3 fatty acids in their blood, as well as consistently low DHA levels, had more psychotic experiences at age 24 compared to people whose levels remained average over this time period.

Psychotic experiences include thoughts of paranoia or hearing sounds others cannot.

In addition, these participants also showed greater negative symptoms of psychosis. These include experiencing a loss of interest in activities, flattening of emotions and social withdrawal.

David Mongan, academic clinical lecturer at Queen’s University, said: “This inaugural study is important because the results suggest that optimising fatty acid status during crucial stages of development, whether through diet or supplementation, warrants further investigation in relation to reducing psychotic symptoms in early adulthood.”

Doctor Ben Perry, of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, added: “We’ve found an interesting link between higher ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids during childhood and adolescence and an increase in experiences of psychosis in adulthood.

“We don’t yet know why this should be case, but nor do we believe people should be concerned by these findings.

“Omega-6 fatty acids as part of a balanced diet are important nutrients and we would not recommend people cut them out of their diets. We hope future research will explore this possible link between diet and mental health in more detail.”

Professor David Cotter, professor of molecular psychiatry at RCSI, said: “Building on our previous research, these findings reinforce our understanding of the important relationship between fatty acids and later mental health, particularly in how an imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 can increase the risk of later psychotic experiences."

• A nutritional deficiency could be driving global violence
• Doctor sounds alarm over popular health supplements
• Teenage vaping addict loses part of her lung

What are the best sources of omega-3 and 6? 

Foods high in omega-3 include certain fish and seafood, some vegetable oils, nuts, and high fat plant foods such as chia seeds, flax seeds, Brussels sprouts and more.

Omega-6 fatty acids can be found in sunflower, safflower, soy, sesame, and corn oils.

Or as Holford puts it, "omega-6 fats are highest in hot-climate foods, such as sesame and sunflower seeds, omega-3 fats are highest in cold-climate foods, such as green leafy vegetables – cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts, for example – but also colder-climate nuts or seeds such as walnut , flax or chia".

It’s fish that swim in colder water, higher up the food chain, for example fish with teeth that eat other fish, that provide the most omega-3 EPA and DHA, he says.

For those who can afford to splash out, the single richest source of DHA is caviar, the nutritionist says. It is "literally caviar" for your brain.

Fish-oil supplements, which retail at 7p a tablet, also provide a combination of EPA and DHA, Holford says.