The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Depression: From Biological Mechanisms to Clinical Targets
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Lipids".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 52
Special Issue Editor
2. Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: mental health; psychiatric disorder; major depressive disorder; perinatal depression; stress; gut microbiota; neurodevelopmental disorders; neurodegenerative diseases
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue examines how omega-3 fatty acids shape depressive pathology, surveying both mechanistic underpinnings and clinical advances. Although evidence for clinical benefit is growing, key questions remain regarding causal pathways, optimal formulations and dosing, patient stratification, and the role of adjunctive use alongside standard treatments.
We welcome contributions that move beyond single pathways to integrate central and peripheral inflammation, the gut–brain axis, neurovascular function and synaptic plasticity, cellular bioenergetics, and neuroendocrine regulation (HPA axis). Submissions may include original research, reviews, and perspectives across basic, clinical, and translational research.
By integrating these lines of evidence, the Special Issue aims to clarify the therapeutic potential of omega-3 fatty acids in depression and to chart a path toward mechanism-guided, patient-tailored interventions.
Dr. Annamaria Cattaneo
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- omega-3 fatty acids
- eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)
- depression
- major depressive disorder (MDD)
- mental health
- nutritional psychiatry
- precision nutrition
- diet
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