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Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Ease Depression Symptoms

by Karen Morse | August 1, 2016

Depression affects approximately 350 million people around the world, and according to the World Health Organization, is the leading cause of disability across the globe. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that in 2014, over 15 million adults in the United States experienced at least one major depressive episode – that’s 6.7 percent of all American adults.

A new meta-analysis published in the scientific journal Translational Psychiatry suggested a beneficial overall effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (or PUFA) supplementation in subjects who were diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).

The meta-analysis was conducted by scientists from The Netherlands on 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with more than 1,200 adult study participants The study authors found that intake of omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduced symptoms of MDD on a level comparable to effects reported in similar meta-analyses of antidepressants. Benefits seemed greater in studies where high doses of EPAs were given to patients who were already using antidepressants to alleviate their symptoms.

“This new meta-analysis nuances earlier research on the importance of long chain omega-3s in MDD management”, said leader study author Dr. Roel JT Mocking, a researcher at the Program for Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

Mocking said these findings could be a next step to further personalizing medical treatment for MDD and other disorders. The long-term safety effects of supplementation with high doses of omega-3 fatty acids are unknown and should be monitored carefully.

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