Social Work Today E-Zine

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences are seeking participants for a clinical trial examining whether two polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids are effective treatments for depression. The two fatty acids being studied—docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA)—are found naturally in fish oil, flaxseed, and walnuts. Previous studies have indicated that nutritional supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids can be an effective treatment for depression, but this is the first to systematically test the two specific fatty acids in a large sample of people with major depression. DHA and EPA have anti-inflammatory properties and help stabilize brain cell membranes, both of which play a role in mood regulation.

The National Institutes of Health-sponsored study, held in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, will recruit a total of 300 adults aged 18 to 80 who are experiencing significant symptoms of major depressive disorder and are in good health. The five-year study is designed to test the safety, effectiveness, and tolerability of DHA and EPA against each other and a placebo. Participants will receive one of the two drugs or a placebo for eight weeks in a randomized, double-blind manner. The Cedars-Sinai team will examine the effect of the therapies on participants’ symptoms, quality of life and psychosocial function. They will also examine how fatty acids in the blood and proteins involved in immune function are affected by omega-3s.

— Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center