Wednesday, June 30, 2010
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has revealed that Omega-3 supplements can be an effective method of treating major depression in patients who do not have anxiety disorders. At first glance, the efficacy of Omega-3 was not clearly demonstrated; however with further analysis it was clear that Omega-3 improved depressive symptoms as efficiently as those treated with antidepressants.
The experiment studied 432 male and female subjects with major depression over a period of 8 weeks, from October 2005 to January 2009. Each day of the study, half of the participants were given three capsules of OM3 Emotional Balance, a fish oil supplement which contains 1050 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 150 of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The remaining participants took three identical capsules containing sunflower oil, which was flavored with fish oil to maintain the anonymity of the placebos. Researchers ensured a double-blind effect where neither subject nor researcher could identify either group.
“In contrast with typical clinical studies designed to assess the effectiveness of antidepressants, this study included a high proportion of patients with complex and difficult-to-treat conditions, including patients resistant to conventional antidepressant treatments and patients also suffering from an anxiety disorder. The aim was to assess the value of Omega-3 supplementation in a group of individuals more like those treated in outpatient clinics.”Statistics show that roughly 11% of men and 16% of women in Canada are likely to suffer from major depression at some point in their lives. Currently, depression is listed as the world’s fourth leading cause of death and it is anticipated that it could be the second by the year 2020.
“Epidemiological and neurobiological studies have suggested that a relative deficit in polyunsaturated fatty acids of the Omega-3 group may predispose individuals to psychological disorders such as depression.”Supplements are likely to be more attractive alternatives to the many patients with depression that cease pharmacotherapy after only a few months because of their fear of stigmatization or side effects. These alternatives need to be more adequately studied so that new treatments may be developed. Ideally, additional research directly comparing Omega-3 with conventional antidepressants could speed up the process toward more effective treatments for depression.
Treating Depression With Omega-3: Encouraging Results from Largest Clinical Study
© www.mentalhealthblog.com
Anti-Depressants, Depression, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), Double-Blind, Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), Fish Oil, Herbal Supplements, Major Depression, OM3 Emotional Balance, Omega 3
1 comment
1 comments:
This is very encouraging indeed, and helps confirm a belief I've had for several years. I have felt for a long time that many of our physical and mental issues stem from some nutrient deficiency or other. If you look at the patterns, it is easy to see that many individuals with inadequate diets tend to suffer more from various ailments. When we don't eat a proper diet on a proper schedule, the lack of needed nutrients can cause chemical imbalances or in some cases an excess of a chemical that the body only needs a small amount of. These can cause shifts in mood, the inability to focus or remember things, lack of interest and restlessness.
While this study speaks to the amazing leaps and bounds we're seeing in the world of medicine, it is really not so surprising to me. With the foods we eat being high in the wrong type of fats, sugar, additives and preservatives it's no wonder the so many individuals experience the problems they do. Natural food wasn't meant to be ingested with some of the ingredients that are being added these days. Imagine how many physical or mental illnesses could be lessened simply by eating better?
I'm just glad that there are institutions out there willing to actually study such possible treatments instead of our system continuing to rely so heavily on pharmaceutical products.
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