For many families, outbursts and simmering conflicts are part of everyday life, whether in a crowded classroom or during a stressful shift at work. What if part of the answer sits in something as ordinary as a fish oil capsule.
A new review of nearly thirty clinical trials suggests that omega 3 supplements could take at least some of the edge off, with a modest but reliable drop in aggressive behavior from hot-headed flare ups to more calculated acts.
What the new omega 3 study found
The meta analysis, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, combined data from 29 randomized controlled trials carried out between 1996 and 2024. Across thousands of participants of many ages, people given omega 3 showed lower aggression than those on a placebo.
On average, that difference meant up to about a 28% decrease on standard rating scales.
The effect showed up in many different situations. Benefits appeared across age groups and diagnoses, and in studies done in schools, clinics, and criminal justice settings. Omega 3 supplements reduced both reactive aggression, which shows up as a response to provocation, and proactive aggression, which is planned in advance.
How omega 3 might calm tempers
Omega 3 fatty acids help build cell membranes, influence how nerve cells signal, and can dampen inflammation, processes that may play a role in mood and impulse control. Earlier work has tied higher omega 3 intake to lower risks of psychotic disorders and cardiovascular disease, so the new findings fit into a wider picture where nutrition quietly shapes behavior.
Lead author Adrian Raine argues that the evidence has reached a point where omega 3 should be treated as a practical add on rather than an experimental idea. He suggests parents who are already seeking help for an aggressive child could ask about diet changes or supplements alongside standard care, and policymakers could explore similar steps in schools or prisons.
“Omega 3 is not a magic bullet that is going to completely solve the problem of violence in society,” he notes.
The authors are careful, though, not to oversell what omega 3 can do. Most trials ran for about sixteen weeks, and only one followed participants after the capsules stopped.
The overall effect is modest, which means omega 3 will not transform a violent environment on its own, and questions remain about who benefits most and which doses are optimal. Future studies will need to track people over longer periods to see whether the changes last.
Still, in a world where school fights, domestic disputes, and even road rage carry a heavy cost, a safe intervention that nudges aggression downward matters. For policymakers and front-line professionals, the message is less about a miracle cure and more about another evidence-based tool to combine with counseling, education, and social support.
The study was published in Aggression and Violent Behavior.
