Evidence-Based Reviews

Omega-3 fatty acids: Do ‘fish oils’ have a therapeutic role in psychiatry?

Author and Disclosure Information

 

References

Fourteen clinical trials in the past 3 years have examined the potential of omega-3 fatty acids in treating psychiatric disorders. Preliminary findings in at least 700 patients suggest that:

  • omega-3 fatty acids used as adjuncts or monotherapy appear well-tolerated and safe in psychiatric disorders
  • efficacy data vary by disorder
  • the two marine omega-3 fatty acids may differ in efficacy.

Although we cannot offer specific guidance for using omega-3 fatty acids at this time, we can update you on recent trials of these “fish oils” in depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders.

Treating depression

Prevalence rates of major depression1,2 and suicidal ideation3 decrease in populations as fish consumption increases. Some studies4,5 have shown omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in erythrocyte membranes and serum of depressed patients. This putative deficiency has been hypothesized to lead to:

  • alterations in membrane fluidity, which affect monoamine (particularly serotonin) neurotransmission6,7
  • an imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which affects the inflammatory response system (Box).5-12
  • Nemets et al. 13 Twenty patients with recurrent major depression taking maintenance antidepressants were randomly assigned to adjunctive ethyl-EPA, 2 grams/d, or placebo for 4 weeks. Patients given ethyl-EPA showed significantly greater improvement than the placebo group in depressive symptoms, as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD).13
  • Peet and Horrobin. 14 Seventy depressed patients taking antidepressants were randomly assigned to adjunctive ethyl-EPA (1, 2, or 4 grams/d) or placebo for 12 weeks. Only the group taking ethyl-EPA, 1 gram/d, showed significantly greater improvement than the placebo group.
  • Su et al. 15 Twenty-eight patients taking antidepressants for major depression were randomly assigned to adjunctive omega-3 fatty acids (4.4 grams/d of EPA plus 2.2 grams/d of DHA) or placebo. After 8 weeks, depressive symptoms improved significantly more in the adjunctive treatment group.
  • Marangell et al. 16 Thirty-six patients with mild to moderate depression (defined as a score of 17 on the 28-item HRSD) were randomly assigned to monotherapy with DHA, 2 grams/d, or placebo. Response rates after 6 weeks were comparable (27.8% with DHA versus 23.5% with placebo).

Box

What are the omega-3 fatty acids?

Polyunsaturated fatty acids contain a hydrocarbon chain with two or more double bonds. They are divided into families based on the location of their first double bond relative to the methyl end carbon—the “omega” carbon. Polyunsaturated fatty acids of interest in psychiatry include:

  • omega-6 fatty acids—arachidonic acid (AA) and linoleic acid (LA)
  • omega-3 fatty acids—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are called “essential” because they must be obtained from dietary sources. EPA and DHA are derived largely from wild—not farm-raised—fish, including sea bass, mackerel, pike, sardines, salmon, trout, herring, and cod liver oil.8 ALA, a precursor to both EPA and DHA, is derived from plant sources such as flaxseed oil, canola oil, walnuts, and soybean oil.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly AA and DHA, are important components of the phospholipid bilayer of neuronal cell membranes.They increase the ability of phospholipids to move “fluidly” within the membrane and modulate neurotransmission6,7 and signal transduction pathways9,10 thought to be important in psychiatric disorders. They also are precursors for eicosanoid molecules (such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes) and cytokines. Thus, an imbalance favoring omega-6 fatty acids over omega-3 fatty acids may lead to overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.11

Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to be beneficial in numerous inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. The American Heart Association’s dietary guidelines include dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids as part of a healthy diet.12 Unfortunately, typical Western culture diets disproportionately favor foods rich in cholesterol and omega-6 fatty acids instead.

Table 1

Controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acids in treating major depression

Author, year of publicationDuration and dosagesNumber of patientsResults
Adjunctive therapy
Nemets et al, 2002 134 weeks, 2 grams/d of ethyl-EPA in recurrent depression20Significantly greater reduction in mean HRSD scores in ethyl-EPA group(-12.4) compared with placebo group (-1.6)
6 of 10 patients in ethyl-EPA group achieved 50% reduction in HRSD scores, compared with 1 in 10 patients in placebo group
Peet and Horrobin, 2002 1412 weeks, 1, 2, or 4 grams/d of ethyl-EPA70Patients receiving 1 gram/d of ethyl-EPA showed significantly greater reduction in:
  • mean HRSD scores (-9.9) compared with placebo group (-6.1)
  • secondary outcome measures (MADRS and BDI)
Su et al, 2003 158 weeks, 4.4 grams/d of EPA and 2.2 grams/d of DHA28Treatment group showed significantly greater reduction in HRSD scores from baseline at weeks 4, 6, and 8 than placebo group
Monotherapy
Marangell et al, 2003 166 weeks, 2 grams/d of DHA36Little difference between response rates in DHA group (27.8%) and placebo group (23.5%)
BDI: Beck Depression Inventory
DHA: docosahexaenoic acid
EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid
HRSD: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression
MADRS: Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale

Pages

Recommended Reading

Therapy-resistant major depression When to consider ECT: Algorithm seeks respect for neglected therapy
MDedge Psychiatry
ECT: Effective, but it has an image problem
MDedge Psychiatry
Irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric illness: Three clinical challenges
MDedge Psychiatry
Therapy-resistant major depression The attraction of magnetism: How effective—and safe—is rTMS?
MDedge Psychiatry
Reducing suicide risk in psychiatric disorders
MDedge Psychiatry
COPD: How to manage comorbid depression and anxiety
MDedge Psychiatry
Depressed patients won’t exercise? 7 ways to get them started
MDedge Psychiatry
Christmas depression: The data may surprise you
MDedge Psychiatry
Preventing late-life suicide: 6 steps to detect the warning signs
MDedge Psychiatry
Minding menopause: Psychotropics vs. estrogen? What you need to know now
MDedge Psychiatry