Table 2.
Subgroup analysis examining the effect of omega-3 on depression in patients with dementia.
| Subgroup | k | Effect Size (SMD) | 95% Confidence Interval | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intervention type | ||||
| EPA | 4 | −0.169 | −0.454 to 0.116 | 0.246 |
| DHA | 6 | −0.247 | −0.482 to −0.013 | 0.039 |
| DHA+EPA | 5 | −0.061 | −0.228 to 0.105 | 0.470 |
| DHA+OS | 1 | −0.815 | −1.636 to 0.007 | 0.052 |
| Length | ||||
| 3 m | 1 | −0.815 | −1.636 to 0.007 | 0.052 |
| 6 m | 7 | −0.177 | −0.415 to 0.062 | 0.146 |
| 12 m | 5 | −0.147 | −0.334 to 0.039 | 0.120 |
| ≥24 m | 3 | −0.138 | −0.417 to 0.140 | 0.331 |
| Cognition | ||||
| MCI | 3 | −0.934 | −1.412 to −0.456 | < 0.001 |
| Moderate | 11 | −0.073 | −0.200 to 0.055 | 0.265 |
| Severe | 2 | −0.295 | −0.620 to 0.031 | 0.076 |
| DHA/Dosage (Day) | ||||
| High | 5 | −0.226 | −0.484 to 0.031 | 0.085 |
| Moderate | 4 | −0.172 | −0.436 to 0.093 | 0.203 |
| Low | 4 | −0.156 | −0.432 to 0.119 | 0.267 |
| EPA/Dosage (Day) | ||||
| High | 4 | −0.169 | −0.454 to 0.116 | 0.246 |
| Moderate | 5 | −0.061 | −0.228 to 0.105 | 0.470 |
| Low | 2 | −0.953 | −1.534 to −0.373 | 0.001 |
| Rating scale | ||||
| GDS | 12 | −0.172 | −0.329 to −0.016 | 0.031 |
| non-GDS | 4 | −0.126 | −0.302 to 0.051 | 0.163 |
Note: SMD: standardized mean difference; k: number of studies; DHA: docosahexaenoic acid; EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid; OS: other supplements; MCI: mild cognitive impairment; GDS: Geriatric Depression Scale.