Omega-3, Metabolic Syndrome, and Schizophrenia: A review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Biochemistry and Nutrition Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Dermatology Department, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

According to the literature, schizophrenia is associated with the components of metabolic syndrome. This mental disorder has such manifestations as visceral obesity, impaired lipid metabolism, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. The prevalence rate of schizophrenia varies in different countries. There is a body of evidence about the higher incidence of cardiovascular events in the schizophrenic patients with metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the prevention or treatment of this condition in sthese patients is a matter of fundamental importance. Fish oils, commonly used by people, contain omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 has been demonstrated to be effective in the patients with metabolic syndrome.