Omega-3 fatty acids have been show to help a lot with depression.

Http://www.Softecare.Com/ingredients/omega _3_benefits_and_facts.Cfm

one of many papers on the subject:
lipids, depression and suicide. Colin, a.; reggers, j.; castronovo, v.; ansseau, m. Universite de liege, cup la clairiere, bertrix, belg. Encephale (2003), 29(1), 49-58. Coden: encean issn: 0013-7006. Journal; general review written in french. Can 139:66910 an 2003:342814 caplus (copyright 2004 acs on scifinder (r))

abstract

a review. W3-polyunsatd. Fatty acids are made out of a hydrocarbonated chain of variable length with several double bonds. The position of the first double bond (w; omega) differentiates polyunsatd. W3 fatty acids (for example: alpha-linolenic acid or a-lna) and polyunsatd. W6 fatty acids (for example: linoleic acid or la). These two classes of fatty acids are said to be essential because they cannot be synthesized by the organism and have to be taken from alimentation. The w3 are present in linseed oil, nuts, soya beans, wheat and cold water fish whereas w6 are present in maize, sunflower and sesame oil. Fatty acids are part of phospholipids and, consequently, of all biol. Membranes. The membrane fluidity, of crucial importance for its functionning, depends on its lipidic components. Phospholipids composed of chains of polyunsatd. Fatty acids increase the membrane fluidity because, by bending some chains, double bonds prevent them from compacting themselves perfectly. Membrane fluidity is also detd. By the phospholipids/free cholesterol ratio, as cholesterol increases membrane viscosity. A diet based on a high proportion of essential polyunsatd. Fatty acids (fluid) would allow a higher incorporation of cholesterol (rigid) in the membranes to balance their fluidity, which would contribute to lower blood cholesterol levels. Brain membranes have a very high content in essential polyunsatd. Fatty acids for which they depend on alimentation. Any dietary lack of essential polyunsatd. Fatty acids has consequences on cerebral development, modifying the activity of enzymes of the cerebral membranes and decreasing efficiency in learning tasks. Epidemiol. Data - the prevalence of depression seems to increase continuously since the beginning of the century. Though different factors most probably contribute to this evolution, it has been suggested that it could be related to an evolution of alimentary patterns in the western world, in which polyunsatd.

W3 fatty acids contained in fish, game and vegetables have been largely replaced by polyunsatd. W6 fatty acids of cereal oils. Some epidemiol. Data support the hypothesis of a relation between lower depression and/or suicide rates and a higher consumption of fish. These data do not however prove a relation of causality. Cholesterol and depression - several cohort studies (on nondepressed subjects) have assessed the relationship between plasma cholesterol and depressive symptoms with contradictory results. Though some results found a significant relationship between a decrease of total cholesterol and high scores of depression, some other did not. Studies among patients suffering from major depression signalled more constantly an assocn. Between low cholesterol and major depression. Besides, some trial showed that clin. Recovery may be assocd. With a significant increase of total cholesterol. Cholesterol and suicidal behavior - the hypothesis that a low cholesterol level may represent a suicidal risk factor was discovered accidentally following a series of epidemiol. Studies which revealed an increase of the suicidal risk among students with a low cholesterol level. Though some contradictory studies do exist, this relationship has been confirmed by several subsequent cohort studies. These findings have challenged the vast public health programs aimed at promoting the decrease of cholesterol, and even suggested to suspend the administration of lipid lowering drugs. Recent clin. Studies on populations treated with lipid lowering drugs showed nevertheless a lack of significant increase of mortality, either by suicide or accident. In addn., several controlled studies among psychiatric patients revealed a decrease of the concns. Of plasma cholesterol among patients who had attempted suicide in comparison with other patients. Polyunsatd. Fatty acids and depression - in major depression, all studies revealed a significant decrease of the polyunsatd.
W3 fatty acids and/or an increase of the w6/w3 ratio in plasma and/or in the membranes of the red cells. In addn. Two studies found a highter severity of depression when the level of polyunsatd. W3 fatty acids or the ratio w3/w6 was low. Parallel to these modifications, other biochem. Perturbations have been reported in major depression, particularly an activation of the inflammatory response system, resulting in an increase of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukins:il-1b, il-6 and interferon g) and eicosanoids (among others, prostaglandin e2) in the blood and the csf of depressed patients. These substances cause a peroxidn. And, consequently a catabolism of membrane phospholipids, among others those contg. Polyunsatd. Fatty acids. The cytokines and eicosanoids derive from polyunsatd. Fatty acids and have opposite physiol. Functions according to their w3 or w6 precursor. Arachidonic acid (w6)is among others, precursor of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin e2 (pge2) where polyunsatd. W3 fatty acids inhibit the formation pge2. It has been shown that a dietary increase of polyunsatd. W3 fatty acids reduced strongly the prodn. Of il-1b, il-2 and tnf-a (tumor necrosis factor-a). In contrast, diets with a higher supply of linoleic acid (w6) increased significantly the prodn. Of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like tnf-a. Therefore, polyunsatd. W3 fatty acids could be assocd. At different levels in the pathophysiol. Of major depression, on on the one hand through their role in the membrane fluidity which influences diverse steps of neurotransmission and, on the other hand, through their function as precursor of pro-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids disturbing neurotransmission. In addn. Antidepressants could exhibit an immunoregulating effect by reducing the release of pro -inflammatory cytokines, by increasing the release of endogenous antagonists of pro-inflammatory cytokines like il-10 and finally, by acting like inhibitor of cyclos-oxygenase.

Therapeutic use of fatty acids: data, available concerning the administration of supplements of dha (docosahexanoic acid) or other polyunsatd. Fatty acids w3 are limited. In a double blind placebo controlled study on 30 patients with bipolar disorder, the addn. Of polyunsatd. W3 fatty acids was assocd. With a longer period of remission. Moreover, nearly all the other prognosis measures were better in the w3 group. After 4 wk, six of the 10 patients receiving the fatty acid were considered as responders in comparison with only one of the ten patients receiveing placebo. Conclusions - some epidemiol., exptl. And clin. Data for the hypothesis that polyunsatd. Fatty acids could play a role in the pathogenesis and/or the treatment of depression. More studies however are needed in order to better precise the actual implication of those biochem. Factors among the various aspects of depressive illness.