Fish Oil (Omega 3), Immune Function, and Mood

Omega-3 Dietary Supplementation, Immune Function, and Mood

This study is designed to examine the effects of fish oil on immune function and mood.

The beneficial effects of fish oil (or eating fish more frequently) include reductions in triglycerides, blood pressure, and heart rate, as well as increases in HDL cholesterol, the "good" type of cholesterol. In addition, certain aspects of immune function also appear to show favorable responses to fish oil supplementation, and some studies suggest that fish oil helps to improve mood and decrease depression.

This study is designed to examine how supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (key fish oil components) affects aspects of your immune response, and your mood; because some research suggests that people who eat more fish may do better during stressful times, the study will also examine how fish oil affects your immune response to stress, certain stress hormone responses, and your psychological response to stress.

For detailed information about the study, please visit our website at http://www.stressandhealth.org

Recruiting men and women ages 40-88 from the Greater Columbus Ohio area. Participation involves taking capsules for 4 months and completing 6 appointments (for a total of 19.5 hours) at Ohio State.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy men and women
• NOT currently taking any sort of fish oil or omega 3 supplement

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of blood pressure medicines, cholesterol-lowering drugs, steroids, or antidepressants
• Certain lifestyle habits such as smoking or exercising vigorously for 2 or more hours a week may also exclude applicants from participating