Curtis Nordstrom, M.S.

MS-3/6 – Medical University of Sofia

Sofia, Bulgaria

Depression

Structure of omega-3 fatty acids

HARVARD-MCLEAN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL STUDY (1999)

Harvard-McLean Study (1999)

• 30 patients with severe bipolar disorder

• Double-blind, placebo-controlled study

• 10g Fish Oil vs. 10g Olive Oil

• 4 months of treatment

• 11/14 (fish oil) vs. 3/16 (olive oil) reported diminished depression

• Fish oil also associated with diminished decrease in manic-depressive episodes

TEHRAN UNIVERSITY – SWALLOWNEST COURT HOSPITAL, UK (2008)

English-Iranian Study (2008)

• 60 patients, each with 15 behavioral markers for depression

• Three treatment groups: 1) Prozac alone; 2) Fish oil alone; 3) Prozac plus Fish oil

• Two months treatment

• Prozac = 50% decrease

• Fish oil = 56% decrease

• Prozac plus Fish oil = 81% decrease

Criticisms

• American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) reported analysis of 12 trials, stating “…the evidence available provides little support…” but calls for larger trials.

• British Journal of Nutrition (2007) found increased EPA and DHA in diet brought no “beneficial or harmful effects on mood in mild to moderate depression.”

U.S. National Institutes of Health

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