Fish Oil Flops as Adjuvant Therapy for Depression

[HuckleB]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/CHF/16528

"Although they're popular supplements for heart health, omega-3 fatty acids did not appear to enhance antidepressant treatment in patients with comorbid heart disease in a randomized trial, researchers said.

Patients given fish oil supplements showed no differences in any measure of depressive symptoms, response, or remission compared with those given a corn oil placebo along with sertraline (Zoloft), according to Robert M. Carney, PhD, of Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues.

These findings run counter to a dramatic increase in antidepressant efficacy with omega-3 seen in some prior, smaller studies of otherwise healthy depressed patients, the researchers reported in the Oct. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Carney called the findings disappointing, though perhaps not the final word.

..."

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Now that's a big bummer!

[HuckleB]

1. Someone unrecommended this?

Why would anyone do that?

Is this study offensive?

[damntexdem]

2. Surprising. I mean, how often do you see depressed fish?

;-)

[clear eye]

5. Good one.

:rofl:

You've also just made me a little wistful--my late Dad used to make that type of joke.

[clear eye]

3. Too preliminary.

Pharmaceutical anti-depressants work on only subsets of patients as well. Need to find biochem indicators of who is likely to benefit from either intervention. Also, depression caused by heart disease likely differs from depression from other causes like genetics.

Many patients w/ congestive heart failure benefit hugely from supplements of L-carnitine and CoQ10, especially its reduced form, ubiquinol. The resultant increased energy can help relieve depression. If I wanted to go the nutraceutical route, I would have gone w/ those first. And the SAMe precursors methylcobalamin and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Those really give you a healthy lift.

[HuckleB]

6. Yes, more research is needed.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. This study was done on people --

that also had heart disease. The prior studies had been done on "otherwise healthy" people. I am not sure they can be compared.

I have benefited greatly from adding Omega's via flax seed oil to my diet -- much better mood, less dry skin.

[HuckleB]

7. Yes, it needs to be followed up.

The other studies also had a much too small N.

[Dorian Gray]

8. My doctor

suggested Fish Oil pills for my husband's mild depression (in conjunction with the Wellbutrin prescription she gave him). I'll have to tell him, but his cholesterol has been much better since taking these for the last three years that he'll probably keep on them anyhow.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. Does your husband also suffer from heart disease?

Those in this trial did. That could be a factor in the different trials results.

[Dorian Gray]

11. No, he didn't....

I love the stuff, to be honest, but I've never suffered from depression, so I don't know how effective it is with treating that. He seems to like it and want to continue with it, though I don't think he believes that the fish oil is the(sole) reason why his depression and anxiety have dissipated somewhat. Perhaps in conjunction with his other meds, they've made a difference. But, his cholesterol and blood pressure are much improved, so he's comfortable with taking them regularly. (I also take them, but a DHA blend as they are a part of my pre-natal vitamins.)

[HuckleB]

10. Many physicians have been recommending Fish Oil to treat depression for a while.

The studies showing it to be beneficial were small, but the side effects mostly hit the individual's wallet, so it made sense, and may still make sense, to give it a try.

[Dorian Gray]

12. Yes

I agree. It's certainly not harmful.