Clinician Article
Efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of depression.
PMID: 27103682
-
FM/GP/Mental HealthRelevance - 6/7
Newsworthiness - 6/7 -
Family Medicine (FM)/General Practice (GP)Relevance - 5/7
Newsworthiness - 5/7 -
General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US)Relevance - 5/7
Newsworthiness - 5/7 -
PsychiatryRelevance - 5/7
Newsworthiness - 5/7
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Trials evaluating efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in major depressive disorder report discrepant findings.
AIMS: To establish the reasons underlying inconsistent findings among randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of omega-3 HUFAs for depression and to assess implications for further trials.
METHOD: A systematic bibliographic search of double-blind RCTs was conducted between January 1980 and July 2014 and an exploratory hypothesis-testing meta-analysis performed in 35 RCTs including 6665 participants receiving omega-3 HUFAs and 4373 participants receiving placebo.
RESULTS: Among participants with diagnosed depression, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-predominant formulations (>50% EPA) demonstrated clinical benefits compared with placebo (Hedge's G = 0.61, P<0.001) whereas docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-predominant formulations (>50% DHA) did not. EPA failed to prevent depressive symptoms among populations not diagnosed for depression.
CONCLUSIONS: Further RCTs should be conducted on study populations with diagnosed or clinically significant depression of adequate duration using EPA-predominant omega-3 HUFA formulations.
Clinical Comments
General Internal Medicine-Primary Care(US)
Is there anything that omega 3s cannot do? Interesting but not paradigm-changing as depression in Primary Care is such a heterogeneous mix of symptoms and severity. Perhaps anyone with any other co-morbidity should start off with omega 3 fatty acids as first-line therapy for depression.
Register for free access to all Professional content
RegisterOur Content
About
Support for the Portal is largely provided by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. AGE-WELL is a contributing partner. Help us to continue to provide direct and easy access to evidence-based information on health and social conditions to help you stay healthy, active and engaged as you grow older. Donate Today.
