Adjunctive low-dose docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depression: An open-label pilot trial

• Published in: Nutritional neuroscience 2018-03, Vol.21 (3), p.224-228
• Main Authors: Smith, Deidre J., Sarris, Jerome, Dowling, Nathan, O'Connor, Manjula, Ng, Chee H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjunctive; Adult; Antidepressive Agents - administration & dosage; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; Combined Modality Therapy - adverse effects; Depression; Depression - diet therapy; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - physiopathology; Depression - therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major - diet therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major - physiopathology; Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - diet therapy; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - physiopathology; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant - therapy; DHA; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Dietary Supplements - adverse effects; Docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Docosahexaenoic Acids - adverse effects; Docosahexaenoic Acids - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders - chemically induced; Mood Disorders - etiology; Mood Disorders - prevention & control; Omega-3; Pilot Projects; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotherapy; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic - etiology; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic - prevention & control
• ISSN: 1028-415X; 1476-8305
• DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2017.1283128

Overview: Whilst the majority of evidence supports the adjunctive use of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in improving mood, to date no study exists using low-dose docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) alone as an adjunctive treatment in patients with mild to moderate major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: A naturalistic 8-week open-label pilot trial of low-dose DHA, (260 mg or 520 mg/day) in 28 patients with MDD who were non-responsive to medication or psychotherapy, with a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score of greater than 17, was conducted. Primary outcomes of depression, clinical severity, and daytime sleepiness were measured. Results: After 8 weeks, 54% of patients had a ≥50% reduction on the HAM-D, and 45% were in remission (HAM-D ≤ 7). The eta-squared statistic (0.59) indicated a large effect size for the reduction of depression (equivalent to Cohen's d of 2.4). However confidence in this effect size is tempered due to the lack of a placebo. The mean score for the Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale was significantly improved by 1.28 points (P