Omega-3 Supplements Linked to Lower Aggression, Study Finds
Most of us know that we should be taking omega-3s to benefit our brain, but a study published in Aggression and Violent Behavior takes that notion a step further. Findings suggest that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids (a fatty acid 90 percent of Americans fail to get enough of) may actually help to reduce aggressive behavior in both children and adults. Researchers reviewed findings from 29 randomized controlled trials involving 3,918 participants and found consistent evidence that omega-3 supplementation led to reductions in aggression.
Across the studies, researchers found a modest but meaningful short-term effect, with omega-3 supplementation linked to reductions in aggression of up to 28 percent across factors such as age, sex, medical conditions, treatment duration, and dosage levels.
Notably, omega-3 supplementation appeared to reduce both reactive and proactive aggression. Reactive aggression refers to impulsive, emotionally driven behavior, while proactive aggression is more calculated or predatory in nature. The effects were especially noticeable in self-reported measures of aggression.
"I think the time has come to implement omega-3 supplementation to reduce aggression, irrespective of whether the setting is the community, the clinic, or the criminal justice system," said neurocriminologist Adrian Raine. "At the very least, parents seeking treatment for an aggressive child should know that in addition to any other treatment that their child receives, an extra portion or two of fish each week could also help."
Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oil, have been proposed as one nutritional factor that may influence brain health and emotional regulation. Past research has linked poor nutrition with higher rates of antisocial and aggressive behavior. On the flipside, previous studies have also associated higher fish consumption with lower homicide rates across countries.
Based on the findings, researchers concluded there is now enough evidence to begin implementing omega-3 supplementation as a potential strategy for reducing aggression in community, clinical, and criminal justice settings alike.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Fitness section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 2:32 PM.