We explored the effectiveness of eicosapentaenoic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, on insomnia among junior hospital nurses in a well-structured trial. In this study, 80 nurses were randomly assigned to receive either 1200 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid along with 600 mg of docosahexaenoic acid daily or a placebo for 13 weeks.
Our main focus was to see how these supplements influenced insomnia and overall mental health. While we noted some improvements in various measures, including insomnia severity at the 13-week mark, the results didn't demonstrate a significant advantage when compared to the placebo group.
After analyzing data at multiple checkpoints—13, 26, and 52 weeks—we found that the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on insomnia were not strong enough to conclude it as a beneficial treatment. Overall, while there were some positive indicators at certain times, the overall impact on insomnia was not substantial, leaving us to conclude that more research is needed to confirm any real benefits from omega-3 fatty acids for sleep disturbances.