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 - 2008/9/1
Y1 - 2008/9/1
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 - DHA
KW - Depression
KW - Docosahexaenoic acid
KW - EPA
KW - Eicosapentaenoic acid
KW - Omega-3
KW - n-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
C2 - 18539007
AN - SCOPUS:48749130377
VL - 18
SP - 639
EP - 645
JO - European Neuropsychopharmacology
JF - European Neuropsychopharmacology
SN - 0924-977X
IS - 9
ER -