Valentina Ciappolino1, Giuseppe Delvecchio2, Carlo Agostoni3, Alessandra Mazzocchi3, Alfredo Carlo Altamura1, Paolo Brambilla4. 1. Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 2. IRCCS "E. Medea" Scientific Institute, San Vito al Tagliamento, Italy. 3. Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Cà Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20121 Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Texas at Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: paolo.brambilla1@unimi.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Among emerging treatments for depressive disorders several studies suggested that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) supplementation can be used. However, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) differ in terms of biochemistry, metabolism and therapeutic effects. Therefore, a clear picture of their specific and different role on affective disorders has not yet emerged. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of n-3PUFAs on affective disorders including major depression, bipolar disorder and perinatal depression. METHODS: a comprehensive search on PUBMED, Medline and PsychINFO of all RCTs using n-3PUFAs patients with depressive symptoms published up to April 2016 was performed. We included trials that examined unipolar or bipolar disorder and trials that investigated depressive symptoms in relation to pregnancy. Trials were excluded if the depressive symptomatology was related to other primary organic diseases. RESULTS: 264 RCT studies were identified but only 36 met the inclusion criteria. First, it has been reported that n-3PUFAs supplementation might have clinical benefits on depressive symptoms. Second, EPA supplement, rather than DHA, seems to be more effective in treating major depression. Third, n-3PUFAs can have beneficial effects in bipolar depression but not in perinatal depression. CONCLUSIONS: there are only some evidence on the efficacy of n-3PUFAs in affective disorders especially to unipolar and bipolar depression not powered enough to confirm a therapeutic effect for affective disorder. Therefore, further studies with larger and more homogeneous samples, are required to confirm these effects.
BACKGROUND: Among emerging treatments for depressive disorders several studies suggested that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) supplementation can be used. However, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) differ in terms of biochemistry, metabolism and therapeutic effects. Therefore, a clear picture of their specific and different role on affective disorders has not yet emerged. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of n-3PUFAs on affective disorders including major depression, bipolar disorder and perinatal depression. METHODS: a comprehensive search on PUBMED, Medline and PsychINFO of all RCTs using n-3PUFAspatients with depressive symptoms published up to April 2016 was performed. We included trials that examined unipolar or bipolar disorder and trials that investigated depressive symptoms in relation to pregnancy. Trials were excluded if the depressive symptomatology was related to other primary organic diseases. RESULTS: 264 RCT studies were identified but only 36 met the inclusion criteria. First, it has been reported that n-3PUFAs supplementation might have clinical benefits on depressive symptoms. Second, EPA supplement, rather than DHA, seems to be more effective in treating major depression. Third, n-3PUFAs can have beneficial effects in bipolar depression but not in perinatal depression. CONCLUSIONS: there are only some evidence on the efficacy of n-3PUFAs in affective disorders especially to unipolar and bipolar depression not powered enough to confirm a therapeutic effect for affective disorder. Therefore, further studies with larger and more homogeneous samples, are required to confirm these effects.
Authors: Valentina Ciappolino; Alessandra Mazzocchi; Paolo Enrico; Marie-Louise Syrén; Giuseppe Delvecchio; Carlo Agostoni; Paolo Brambilla Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2018-06-23 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Konstantinos N Fountoulakis; Lakshmi N Yatham; Heinz Grunze; Eduard Vieta; Allan H Young; Pierre Blier; Mauricio Tohen; Siegfried Kasper; Hans Jurgen Moeller Journal: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol Date: 2020-04-23 Impact factor: 5.176