Table 2.
Double-blind controlled trials of HUFAs in the treatment of depressive disorders. HDRS, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; MADRS, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.
| Study | Dose and Method | Sample | Treatment Duration | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peet and Horrobin, 2002 [35] | ethyl-EPA 1, 2 or 4 g/day add-on standard antidepressant treatment | 70 patients resistant to antidepressant treatment | 12 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms measured with HDRS, MADRS and BDI in the group treated with 1 g/day of HUFAs |
| Nemets et al., 2002 [40] | ethyl-EPA 2 g/day | 20 patients | 4 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms measured with HDRS from the second week of treatment |
| Nemets et al., 2006 [41] | ethyl-EPA 0.4 g/day + DHA 0.2 g/day | 20 patients 6–12 years-old | 16 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms measured with CDRS, CDI and CGI |
| Su et al., 2003 [36] | ethyl-EPA 4.4 g/day + DHA 2.2 g/day add-on existing antidepressant treatment | 22 patients | 8 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms measured with HDRS |
| Su et al., 2008 [42] | ethyl-EPA 2.2 g/day + DHA 1.2 g/day | 36 pregnant patients | 8 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms measured with HDRS, EPDS and BDI |
| Rondanelli et al., 2010, 2011 [43,44] | EPA 1.67 g/day + DHA 0.83 g/day add-on existing antidepressant treatment | 46 elderly female residents in a nursing home | 8 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms assessed with GDS, improvement of phospholipids fatty acids’ profile |
| Rees et al., 2008 [46] | ethyl-EPA 0.4 g/day + DHA 1.6 g/day | 26 pregnant patients | 6 weeks | no benefits on depressive symptoms |
| Freeman et al., 2008 [47] | EPA 1.1 g/day + DHA 0.8 g/day | 59 women | 8 weeks | no benefit on perinatal depressive symptoms |
| Lespérance et al., 2011 [37] | EPA 1.050 g/day + DHA 150 mg/day | 432 patients with a major depressive episode | 8 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms only for the patients without comorbid anxiety disorders |
| Mischoulon et al., 2008 [53] | DHA 1, 2, or 4 g/day | 35 patients | 12 weeks | measured in the group in treatment with 1 g/day of HUFAs |
| Jazayeri et al., 2008 [38] | EPA 1 g/day vs. fluoxetine 20 mg/day | 60 patients | 8 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms in both groups |
| Mischoulon et al., 2015 [54] | EPA 1 g/day or DHA 1 g/day | 196 patients | 8 weeks | EPA and DHA were not superior to placebo |
| Gertsik et al., 2012 [39] | EPA 1.8 g/day + DHA 0.4 g/day + other omega-3 fatty acids 0.2 g/day + citalopram vs. placebo + citalopram | 42 patients | 9 weeks | ↓ depressive symptoms measured with HDRS |
| Carney et al., 2009 [55] | E-EPA (0.93 g/day) plus DHA (0.75 g/day) on depression in addition to sertraline | 122 patients with major depression associated with coronary heart disease | 10 weeks | EPA and DHA were not superior to placebo |
Abbreviations: EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA = docosahexaenoic acid; ethyl-EPA = ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid; CDRS = Childhood Depression Rating Scale; CDI = Childhood Depression Inventory; EPDS = Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; GDS = Geriatric Depression Scale; ↓ = decrease of; ↑ = increase of.