A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder

David Mischoulon; Catherine Best-Popescu; Michael Laposata; Wendelien Merens; Jessica L. Murakami; Shirley L. Wu; George I. Papakostas; Christina M. Dording; Shamsah B. Sonawalla; Andrew A. Nierenberg; Jonathan E. Alpert; Maurizio Fava

doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.04.011

A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder

David Mischoulon, Catherine Best-Popescu, Michael Laposata, Wendelien Merens, Jessica L. Murakami, Shirley L. Wu, George I. Papakostas, Christina M. Dording, Shamsah B. Sonawalla, Andrew A. Nierenberg, Jonathan E. Alpert, Maurizio Fava

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the antidepressant efficacy and dose-response pattern of the n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Thirty-five depressed adult outpatients (46% women; mean age 42 ± 14 years) with a 17-item Hamilton-Depression Scale (HAM-D-17) score of > /= 18 were randomized into one of three double-blind dosing arms for 12 weeks. Group A (n = 14): 1 g/day of oral DHA; Group B (n = 11): 2 g/day; and Group C (n = 10): 4 g/day. We measured HAM-D-17 scores, plasma DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and n-6/n-3 ratio. Completer response rates (> /= 50% decrease in HAM-D-17 score) were 83% for Group A, 40% for Group B, and 0% for Group C; Groups A and B had significant decreases in HAM-D-17 scores (p < 0.05). For completers and intent-to-treat subjects, plasma DHA increased significantly (p < 0.05), EPA had little change (p > 0.05), and n-6/n-3 decreased significantly (p < 0.05). DHA may be effective for depression at lower doses.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	639-645
Number of pages	7
Journal	European Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume	18
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.04.011
State	Published - Sep 1 2008
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

DHA
Depression
Docosahexaenoic acid
EPA
Eicosapentaenoic acid
Omega-3
n-3

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pharmacology
Neurology
Clinical Neurology
Psychiatry and Mental health
Biological Psychiatry
Pharmacology (medical)

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Mischoulon, D., Best-Popescu, C., Laposata, M., Merens, W., Murakami, J. L., Wu, S. L., Papakostas, G. I., Dording, C. M., Sonawalla, S. B., Nierenberg, A. A., Alpert, J. E., & Fava, M. (2008). A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 18(9), 639-645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.04.011

A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder. / Mischoulon, David; Best-Popescu, Catherine; Laposata, Michael; Merens, Wendelien; Murakami, Jessica L.; Wu, Shirley L.; Papakostas, George I.; Dording, Christina M.; Sonawalla, Shamsah B.; Nierenberg, Andrew A.; Alpert, Jonathan E.; Fava, Maurizio.

In: European Neuropsychopharmacology, Vol. 18, No. 9, 01.09.2008, p. 639-645.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Mischoulon, D, Best-Popescu, C, Laposata, M, Merens, W, Murakami, JL, Wu, SL, Papakostas, GI, Dording, CM, Sonawalla, SB, Nierenberg, AA, Alpert, JE & Fava, M 2008, 'A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder', European Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 18, no. 9, pp. 639-645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.04.011

Mischoulon, David ; Best-Popescu, Catherine ; Laposata, Michael ; Merens, Wendelien ; Murakami, Jessica L. ; Wu, Shirley L. ; Papakostas, George I. ; Dording, Christina M. ; Sonawalla, Shamsah B. ; Nierenberg, Andrew A. ; Alpert, Jonathan E. ; Fava, Maurizio. / A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder. In: European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008 ; Vol. 18, No. 9. pp. 639-645.

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abstract = "We examined the antidepressant efficacy and dose-response pattern of the n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Thirty-five depressed adult outpatients (46% women; mean age 42 ± 14 years) with a 17-item Hamilton-Depression Scale (HAM-D-17) score of > /= 18 were randomized into one of three double-blind dosing arms for 12 weeks. Group A (n = 14): 1 g/day of oral DHA; Group B (n = 11): 2 g/day; and Group C (n = 10): 4 g/day. We measured HAM-D-17 scores, plasma DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and n-6/n-3 ratio. Completer response rates (> /= 50% decrease in HAM-D-17 score) were 83% for Group A, 40% for Group B, and 0% for Group C; Groups A and B had significant decreases in HAM-D-17 scores (p < 0.05). For completers and intent-to-treat subjects, plasma DHA increased significantly (p < 0.05), EPA had little change (p > 0.05), and n-6/n-3 decreased significantly (p < 0.05). DHA may be effective for depression at lower doses.",

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