Dataset Information

Efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of depression.

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.

SUBMITTER: Hallahan B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9406129 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of depression.

Hallahan Brian B Ryan Timothy T Hibbeln Joseph R JR Murray Ivan T IT Glynn Shauna S Ramsden Christopher E CE SanGiovanni John Paul JP Davis John M JM

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science 20160421 3

<h4>Background</h4>Trials evaluating efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in major depressive disorder report discrepant findings.<h4>Aims</h4>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.<h4>Method</h4>A systematic bibliographic search of double-blind RCTs was conducted between January 1980 and July 2014 and an exploratory hypothesis-testing ...[more]

PMID: 27103682

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundThe seAFOod randomized controlled trial tested colorectal polyp prevention by the omega-3 (ω-3) highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and aspirin. Variable dietary intake of omega-3 HUFAs (also including docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and differential EPA capsule compliance could confound analysis of trial outcomes.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between total (diet and capsule) daily omega-3 HUFA intake, red blood cell (RBC), and rectal mucosa omega-3 HUFA concentrations, and colorectal polyp outcomes in a secondary analysis of the seAFOod trial.MethodsIndividual-participant dietary omega-3 HUFA intake (mg/d) was derived from food frequency questionnaires using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk fatty acid nutrient database. Capsule EPA intake (mg/d) was adjusted for compliance (capsule counting). Fatty acids were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (as % of total fatty acids). HUFA oxidation was measured using the HUFA/saturated fatty acid (SAT) ratio. The colorectal polyp detection rate (PDR; % with ≥1 polyps) and polyp number per participant were analyzed according to the change in RBC EPA concentrations during the trial (ΔEPA), irrespective of treatment allocation.ResultsThere was a small degree of HUFA degradation over time in RBC samples stored at > -80oC at research sites (r = -0.36, P<0.001 for HUFA/SAT ratio over time), which did not affect analysis of omega-3 HUFA concentrations. Low baseline EPA concentration, as well as allocation to EPA and % compliance, were associated with a high ΔEPA. Individuals with a ΔEPA value >+0.5% points (ΔEPAhigh), irrespective of allocation to EPA or placebo, had a lower PDR than ΔEPAlow individuals (odds ratio: 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40, 1.01) and reduced colorectal polyp number (incidence rate ratio: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.54, 1.02).ConclusionsAnalysis of the seAFOod trial according to the change in EPA concentration, instead of treatment allocation, revealed a protective effect of EPA treatment on colorectal polyp recurrence (ISRCTN05926847).

Dataset Information

Efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of depression.

Background

Aims

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of depression.

Similar Datasets

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