There is evidence that suggests that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may help in the treatment of epilepsy. A study, published in the North American Journal of Medical Science (2015 Jul;7(7):317-21. doi: 10.4103/1947-2714.161248) looked at the potential of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to help to reduce the severity and the frequency of epileptic seizures in children with medically resistant epilepsy.

The subjects of the study were 70 children with medically resistant epilepsy, which is defined as defined as the failure of adequate trials of 2 tolerated, appropriately chosen and used antiepileptic drug schedules (whether as monotherapy or in combination) to achieve sustained seizure freedom. The subjects were divided into two groups, with 35 receiving omega-3 fatty acids and 35 receiving a placebo. They were evaluated for the frequency and severity of their seizures at the start of the study, after one month, after two months and after three months.

At the start of the study, none of the children were seizure-free. By the end of the third month, 57.1% of the children in the test group were seizure-free. The placebo group enjoyed no such improvement. The researchers concluded, ” Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids elevated the seizure threshold in epileptic patients and may help in achieving seizure control “.