DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

Does DHA help with depression?

Updated 9 Nov 2026

Short answer

Not as DHA alone. A 2019 review of 26 trials with 2,160 people found that omega-3 products with at least 60% EPA eased symptoms of depression, while products with pure DHA or mostly DHA did not.[1] NCCIH says it is not certain that omega-3 supplements help depression, and that EPA may help more than DHA if they do.[2]

In the DOMInO trial, 800 mg of DHA a day in pregnancy did not lower depression after birth: 9.67% against 11.19%, a difference that was not significant.[3]

Sources (3)

  1. Efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs in depression: A meta-analysis. Liao Y, Xie B, Zhang H, He Q, Guo L, Subramanieapillai M, et al. Transl Psychiatry, 2019. PMID 31383846
  2. Omega-3 Supplements: What You Need To Know. NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2024. www.nccih.nih.gov
  3. Effect of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on maternal depression and neurodevelopment of young children: a randomized controlled trial. Makrides M, Gibson RA, McPhee AJ, Yelland L, Quinlivan J, Ryan P JAMA, 2010. PMID 20959577

More about dha (docosahexaenoic acid)

What is DHA?Does DHA lower inflammation?How much DHA is recommended in pregnancy?What is the difference between DHA and EPA?What is DHA used for?Can the body make its own DHA?

For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.