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 | |
| State | Published - Sep 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Depression
- DHA
- Docosahexaenoic acid
- Eicosapentaenoic acid
- EPA
- n-3
- Omega-3
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Pharmacology (medical)
Cite this
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, 09.2008, p. 639-645.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder
AU - Mischoulon, David
AU - Best-Popescu, Catherine
AU - Laposata, Michael
AU - Merens, Wendelien
AU - Murakami, Jessica L.
AU - Wu, Shirley L.
AU - Papakostas, George I.
AU - Dording, Christina M.
AU - Sonawalla, Shamsah B.
AU - Nierenberg, Andrew A.
AU - Alpert, Jonathan E.
AU - Fava, Maurizio
PY - 2008/9
Y1 - 2008/9
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Depression
KW - DHA
KW - Docosahexaenoic acid
KW - Eicosapentaenoic acid
KW - EPA
KW - n-3
KW - Omega-3
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=48749130377&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=48749130377&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.04.011
DO - 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.04.011
M3 - Article
VL - 18
SP - 639
EP - 645
JO - European Neuropsychopharmacology
JF - European Neuropsychopharmacology
SN - 0924-977X
IS - 9
ER -