Fish Oil Rivals Antidepressants in Clinical Trial

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Fish Oil Rivals Antidepressants in Clinical Trial

 

Clinical findings affirm earlier indications and further justify strong

omega-3 support from the American Psychiatric Association

by Craig Weatherby

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The results of the largest-ever clinical trial found that omega-3 fish

oil may significantly benefit half of all people diagnosed with

depression. Specifically, fish oil seemed to help the 50 percent of

depression patients who are free from diagnosed anxiety disorders. Fish

oil appeared to help these people about as much as the leading class of

antidepressant drugs ... that is, selective serotonin re-uptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac and Paxil. Participants for the trial

were people diagnosed with moderate to severe unipolar (i.e., not

bipolar) major depression who were unable to tolerate antidepressants,

who refused them despite a physician's recommendation, or who were not

helped by the drugs. More than 430 patients with an episode of major

depression were assigned to take either with omega-3 EPA from fish oil

(1,050mg per day) for two months or an identical-looking placebo pill

masked with fish odor. Fish oil did not perform better than placebo, for

the patients diagnosed with anxiety as well as depression. More than 430

patients with an episode of major depression were assigned to take

either with omega-3 EPA from fish oil (1,050mg per day) for two months

or an identical-looking placebo pill masked with fish odor. Omega-3 EPA

from fish oil did not perform better than placebo among the patients

diagnosed with anxiety as well as depression. But among those diagnosed

with major depression & #9472; but not anxiety & #9472; the patients who

took omega-3 EPA had significantly better scores than the placebo group.

As lead author Francois Lesperance, M.D., told Medscape Psychiatry. " ...

the level of improvement we saw in this subgroup is on a par with what

has typically been reported with pharmacologic treatments. " (Stein J

2009) Findings apply to the half of all depression patients not usually

studiedThese findings are important because they carry implications for

about one-half of all depressed patients those who do not also display

anxiety disorders.

And these people are often excluded from placebo-controlled studies of

antidepressant drugs. Dr. Lesperance made a key point: " Many depressed

patients prefer to avoid drug treatment because of the stigma associated

with such therapy, not to mention potential treatment-related side

effects, and thus it's nice to be able to offer patients an alternative

treatment that is similarly effective but without the risks. " (Stein J

2009) Most population studies show links between higher levels of

omega-3s and reduced depression risk, and/or link low levels of omega-3s

-- or an excess of omega-6s versus omega-3s -- to higher levels of

depression. Besides supporting normal mood, research shows that omega-3s

-- and higher than average omega-3/omega-6 intake ratios -- likely

benefit cardiovascular, brain, bone, and metabolic health.

 

Sources

 

- Lesperance F et al. The efficacy of eicosapentaenoic acid for major

depression: Results of the OMEGA-3D trial. 9th World Congress of

Biological Psychiatry: Abstract FC-25-005. Presented July 1, 2009.

Accessed at

http://www.imakenews.com/eletra/go.cfm?z=vitalchoiceseafood%2C383953%2Cb1kJkvww%\

2C3425636%2CbfT6hQ1

 

- Stein J. WCBP 2009: Omega-3 Supplements Provide Mixed Results as

Antidepressant. Medscape Medical News, July 4, 20009. Accessed at

http://www.imakenews.com/eletra/go.cfm?z=vitalchoiceseafood%2C383953%2Cb1kJkvww%\

2C3425637%2CbfT6hQ1