No effect of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (EPA and DHA) supplementation
Project Code: N05038
31/12/2004
University of Bristol
Rogers, P ; Appleton, K; Kessler, D; Peters, T; Gunnell, D; Hayward, R; Heatherley, S; Christian, L; McNaughton, S; Ness, A
Background: Low dietary intakes of the n-3 LCPUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are thought to be associated with increased risk for variety of health outcomes, including some psychiatric disorders. Evidence from observational and intervention studies for a role of n-3 LCPUFAs in depression is mixed, with some support for a benefit of EPA and/or DHA in major depressive illness.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of raising intakes of EPA and DHA on mood and cognitive function in moderately depressed individuals.
Methods: A single centre, double-blind randomized controlled trial evaluated EPA+DHA supplementation versus placebo in 218 moderately depressed individuals, of whom 190 completed the planned 12 weeks intervention. The daily dose of 1.5 g EPA+DHA was substantially in excess of current UK dietary intakes and targets.
Results: Compliance was good, but there was no evidence of a difference between supplementation and placebo groups in the primary outcome – namely, the depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales at 12 weeks. Specifically, mean depression score was 8.4 for the EPA+DHA group and 9.6 for the placebo group, with an adjusted difference of -1.0, 95% CI -2.8 to 0.8, P = 0.27. Other measures of mood, mental health and cognitive function, including Beck Depression Inventory score and attentional bias toward threat words (emotional probe task), were similarly little affected by the intervention.
Conclusions: Markedly increasing EPA+DHA intake was found not to have clinically beneficial or harmful effects on mood in moderate depression.
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