Supplementation of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for Major Depressive Disorder A Randomized, Double-Blind, 12-Week, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Korea

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 66; no. 2/3; pp. 141 - 148
• Main Authors: Park, Yongsoon, Park, Yoo-Sin, Kim, Seok Hyeon, Oh, Dong Hoon, Park, Yong-Chon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Clinical trials; Depressive Disorder, Major - diet therapy; Dietary Supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Double-Blind Method; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - administration & dosage; Epidemiology; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - adverse effects; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - blood; Female; Humans; Korea; Major depressive disorder; Male; Medical research; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Placebos; Psychiatrists; Treatment Outcome; Unsaturated fatty acids; Korea; Korean; Randomized placebo-controlled trial; Major depressive disorder; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000377640

Background: Controversy over the efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in depression continues to this day. The present study investigated the hypothesis that n-3 PUFA supplementation reduces depressive symptoms in Korean patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week, parallel-group trial, 35 patients with Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Korean version (CES-D-K) scores ≥25 and depression confirmed by a psychiatrist were assigned to take either 3 capsules of n-3 PUFAs (1,140 mg of EPA + 600 mg of DHA; n = 18) or placebo (olive oil + safflower oil; n = 17). Results: Supplementation with n-3 PUFAs significantly reduced Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) scores as compared with intake of placebo using intention-to-treat analysis with last-observation-carried-forward after adjusting for energy, fat, and fish intake. However, the CES-D-K, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17, and Clinical Global Impression Scale scores did not significantly differ between the n-3 PUFA and placebo groups. After supplementation with n-3 PUFAs, the erythrocyte levels of n-3 PUFAs were significantly increased, but n-6 PUFA levels were decreased. Conclusions: n-3 PUFAs demonstrated an advantage over placebo that did not reach clinical significance, although CGI-I score was significantly decreased in the n-3 PUFA group as compared with the placebo group.