Posted by violette on June 24, 2010, at 20:05:03 [reposted on June 25, 2010, at 15:47:59 | original URL]
This was a pretty large double blind study and seemed worthwhile to read about...The study population included those who did not respond well to anti depressants, so it might be worthwhile for those not doing well with meds to try (or retry) Omega 3s.
I've used fish oil, ran out, but never paid much attention to brands, ratios or anything like that. Unsure how much this matters..but here's the brand/type specifically used in the study:
"The researchers used doses of 1050 mg of EPA and 150 mg of DHA each day for eight weeks to obtain their results. The specific brand of omega-3 used is called OM3 Emotional Balance and is available at local drugstores in the vitamins aisle (and at online drugstores)."
Not sure what the effect size was and if the group who responded included some for whom ADs did not previously work...but it did say the effect was notable for only depression sufferers who did not have anxiety (that would not include me :( It would be great if the general public had access to these articles, but I checked the online American Journal of American Psychiatry and was unable to get the full article.
I wonder if the price of that brand will increase?
___________________
"Initial analyses failed to clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of omega-3 for all patients taking part in the study. Other analyses, however, revealed that omega-3 improved depression symptoms in patients diagnosed with depression unaccompanied by an anxiety disorder.Efficacy for these patients was comparable to that generally observed with conventional antidepressant treatment."
Article:
"Omega-3 Supplements for Depression
A major new study by several Canadian universities suggests the use of omega-3 supplements is effective among patients with major depression who do not have anxiety disorders.
According to the authors, this was the largest study ever conducted assessing omega-3s efficacy in treating major depression.
Initial analyses failed to clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of omega-3 for all patients taking part in the study. Other analyses, however, revealed that omega-3 improved depression symptoms in patients diagnosed with depression unaccompanied by an anxiety disorder.
Efficacy for these patients was comparable to that generally observed with conventional antidepressant treatment.
From October 2005 to January 2009, 432 male and female participants with major unipolar depression were recruited to take part in this randomized, double-blind study (neither patients nor researchers knew which capsules patients received).
For eight weeks, half of the participants took three capsules per day of OM3 Emotional Balance, a fish oil supplement containing high concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The other half took three identical capsules of a placebo consisting of sunflower oil, flavored with a small quantity of fish oil.
In contrast with typical clinical studies designed to assess the effectiveness of antidepressants, this study included a high proportion of patients with complex and difficult-to-treat conditions, including patients resistant to conventional antidepressant treatments and patients also suffering from an anxiety disorder.
The aim was to assess the value of omega-3 supplementation in a group of individuals more like those treated in outpatient clinics.
Some 11 percent of men and 16 percent of women in Canada will suffer from major depression at some point in their lives, making this disorder a leading public health issue.
Depression, which is now the worlds fourth leading cause of morbidity and death, is expected to move up to the number two position by 2020.
Despite significant progress in neuroscience over the past two decades, depression is difficult to treat, Dr. Lespérance noted.
In view of the large number of patients who stop taking their medications in the first few months of treatment and those who refuse such treatment due to fear of stigmatization or side effects, it comes as no surprise that a large number of patients suffering from major depression use alternative treatments offered outside the health care system.
Many of these treatments have not been adequately evaluated. That is why it was important to assess the efficacy of omega-3, one of the most popular alternative approaches, he added.
Epidemiological and neurobiological studies have suggested that a relative deficit in polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-3 group may predispose individuals to psychological disorders such as depression.
Further, several preliminary clinical studies based on small numbers of patients have suggested that omega-3 supplements with high concentrations of EPA can help to reduce symptoms of depression among patients who fail to respond to an initial antidepressant treatment.
These studies have not, however, convinced the entire scientific community.
A broader study was needed to acquire further knowledge about the properties and efficacy of high-quality omega-3 supplements among patients suffering from major depression.
We are proud that OM3 Emotional Balance, with its high concentration of EPA at unexcelled levels of purity delivers the dose of EPA needed for effective treatment, said Claire Bertin, head pharmacist for isodisnatura, the laboratory producing the omega-3 supplement used in the study.
It is important to note that the study assessed use of omega-3 for eight weeks, at doses of 1050 mg of EPA and 150 mg of DHA each day. It is currently unknown whether taking higher doses or taking supplements over a longer period would yield different results.
These encouraging results show that use of EPA is effective among patients with unipolar depression unaccompanied by an anxiety disorder.
Additional research directly comparing omega-3 with conventional antidepressants could more clearly confirm their usefulness for patients suffering from depression.
Source: Centre hospitalier de lUniversité de Montréal"
http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/06/22/omega-3-supplements-for-depression/14854.html
poster:violette
thread:952185
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20100516/msgs/952185.html