New publications
Fish oil helps reduce nicotine cravings
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
A group of Israeli specialists from the University of Haifa conducted a study on smoking, and as a result it was found that most people who find it difficult to quit smoking have a lack of omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies. As a result of their work, the scientists noted that fish oil will help to replenish the lack of physiologically necessary fats in the body and will facilitate the process of fighting the bad habit.
In their study, the experts found that smoking not only increases the likelihood of developing cancerous tumors, but also provokes problems with the cardiovascular, immune, and respiratory systems.
In earlier studies, experts found that a lack of omega-3 acids leads to mental health problems, increases the risk of developing depression, and reduces the body's ability to cope with stress.
As studies show, modern means to help people quit smoking are not effective enough, in addition, the use of such drugs often causes severe side effects. As experts noted, the cost of fish oil is not high and it can be easily purchased at a pharmacy, but thanks to this food supplement, you can quit smoking much easier with virtually no side effects.
The benefits of fish oil have long been studied by specialists. As another study on this topic has shown, fish oil capsules contain low doses of omega-3 fatty acids, but their use will help reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures in the event of ineffective drug therapy. Just three fish oil capsules a day (slightly more than 1000 mg of omega-3) can help people suffering from epilepsy.
Studies have shown that omega-3, when it enters the central nervous system, makes brain cells less excitable, which helps reduce the number of epileptic seizures.
As already mentioned, fish oil has virtually no contraindications and in moderate doses does not cause side effects, in addition, this food supplement is inexpensive.
Christopher Deneorgio, a researcher at the University of California, said the effect of fish oil was studied on volunteers who were divided into three groups. Each group used a different method of treating epilepsy patients.
In the first group, patients took small doses of fish oil for 10 weeks, in the second group - high doses of omega-3, in the third - a placebo drug. In addition, scientists conducted an independent trial on 24 patients whose disease did not respond to treatment with conventional antiepileptic drugs.
In the first group, which took low doses of fish oil, during the entire experiment (10 weeks), two people did not have a single seizure, while epileptic seizures were recorded in all patients from the second and third groups (which took high doses of omega-3 and a placebo drug).
Currently, experts cannot say exactly why fish oil in low doses reduces the likelihood of developing epileptic seizures, but animal studies have proven that using high doses of omega-3 is ineffective.
[