Feeling Irritable? This Surprising Supplement Can Ease Aggression by Up to 27%
Stress has a way of compounding. News of your parents’ financial struggles and a packed work week can cause you to blow your lid during bumper-to-bumper traffic on your commute to work. Maybe you lay on your horn or cut someone off and act out of turn in a situation that otherwise wouldn’t rattle you.
Turns out a widely studied supplement can help. Researchers suggest omega-3 supplements may reduce these negative emotions and outbursts, according to a new meta-analysis. Traditionally, literature around omega-3 fat benefits have touted their ability to support cardiac health, reduce levels of inflammation, benefit eye health, and mitigate depression.
Researchers pored over scientific literature to find randomized-controlled trials that analyzed omega-3 fatty acid supplements’ ability to impact measured aggression. In total, they found 29 trials that supported the supplement’s ability to ease both reactive and proactive aggression, regardless of gender and age.
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Reactive and proactive aggression are the two most common profiles of aggression, according to Psychology Today. Reactive aggression is retaliatory; you may react impulsively, emotionally, or angrily at someone who you perceive to be provoking you. Proactive aggression, on the other hand, is deliberate actions for the purpose of gaining an advantage.
The study found that regardless of the type of aggression, there was a 27 percent reduction in aggression levels when omega-3 supplementation was utilized.
This isn’t the first time omega-3 fats have been analyzed as a means of lowering aggression levels. In a 2020 study of prisoners, researchers found that inmates with lower levels of omega-3s were more likely to act aggressively than those in the normal range. Another study in 2016 found that in conjunction with other vitamins, minerals, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), omega-3 supplements may help lower levels of aggression in children.
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A broader array of health benefits from taking this supplement have been studied for years. Doctors and researchers have looked to omega-3 supplements as a way to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke by reducing triglycerides and lowering blood pressure. Some research also suggests this nutrient can help reduce plaque levels and reverse atherosclerosis.
Although this latest study suggests omega-3 can help ward off spiraling feelings of aggression, it’s important to take steps beyond supplementation. If you’re experiencing signs of aggressive behavior, learning how to regulate your emotions and seeking professional help is important for your own safety and those around you.