A study published in Biological Psychology (epublished ahead of print, October 1, 2011) examined the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on physiological responses to stress. The study included 34 participants who received either 1.4 grams per day of combined EPA and DHA or a placebo for 21 days.
Cardiovascular measurements were obtained in a laboratory setting at baseline and during a standardized mental stress task. The task involved serial subtraction—participants were instructed to repeatedly subtract 17 from a four-digit number—while cardiovascular reactivity to the task was measured.
Mean arterial pressure reactivity was significantly reduced in the group receiving omega-3 supplementation, while no such reduction was observed in the placebo group. These findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may influence physiological stress responses, particularly cardiovascular reactivity under acute mental stress.
