According to a study by researchers at the University of Pavia, Italy, omega-3 supplements can improve quality of life and reduce depression symptoms in mature women.

The study was published in June 2011 issue of The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging.

The study participants included 46 depressed women from a Pavia nursing home between the ages of 66 and 95. The women were split randomly into two groups, with one group receiving 2.6 gram omega-3 supplements and one group receiving a placebo.

The women took the supplement daily for two months.

Using the Geriatric Depression Scale to measure levels of depression, it was found that the women receiving the supplements had lower depression scores when compared to the women receiving the placebo. The women taking the supplement also self-reported higher physical and mental scores.

The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on depression has been continually debated in the scientific community. Some studies have found there is an inconclusive link, while others have found a very clear link. This study joins earlier Anglo-Iranian and Norwegian studies that found a conclusive link between omega-3 fatty acids and reduction in depression.

A number of other benefits have been linked to omega-3’s, including boosting heart health, reducing the risk of age-related cognitive decline, improving mood and reducing the risk of age-related vision loss. You can increase your omega-3 intake by eating more fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon and cod, or by taking a high quality supplement.