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The effect of low-dose omega 3 fatty acids on the treatment of mild to moderate depression in the elderly: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

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Abstract

Due to the rise in the social and economic costs of depression, new antidepressant medication with fewer side effects should be found. Several studies have shown that an association exists between ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) and depression. However, this association has not been clear enough in the elderly with mild to moderate depression. Sixty-six inhabitants of Kahrizak Charity Foundation participated in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Each participant was ≥ 65 years of age, had a Mini Mental State Exam of ≥ 22, and had scores ranging from 5 to 11 on the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15). During the 6 months, the drug group was treated daily with one gram of fish oil capsule containing 300 mg of both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. No significant differences were noted between the groups in regard to level of education, use of antidepressant drugs, alcohol, tobacco use, history of chronic diseases, age, body mass index (BMI), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total cholesterol, and GDS-15 scores at baseline. After adjusting for cholesterol, BMI, and history of thyroid dysfunctions, a statistically significant difference was seen in GDS-15 scores between both groups. Furthermore, treatment with ω-3 PUFAs was clinically more effective in treating depression in comparison with the placebo. In this study, low-dose ω-3 PUFAs had some efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate depression in elderly participants.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Science. We are grateful to the board of directors and chief manager of the Kahrizak Charity Foundation for their cooperation. We also thank Zahravi Pharmaceutical Company for preparation of the drugs and the placebos. We thank Mohamadreza Hemmati, Neda Nazari, and Goldasteh Besharati for their cooperation during the study follow-up.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 5th floor, Dr Shareeati Hospital, North Karegar Avenue, Tehran, Iran

    Yaser Tajalizadekhoob, Farshad Sharifi, Hossein Fakhrzadeh, Mojde Mirarefin, Maryam Ghaderpanahi & Zohre Badamchizade

  2. Research and Educational Affairs, Kahrizak Charity Foundation, Tehran, Iran

    Farshad Sharifi

  3. Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Solaleh Azimipour

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  1. Yaser Tajalizadekhoob
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  2. Farshad Sharifi
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  3. Hossein Fakhrzadeh
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  4. Mojde Mirarefin
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Correspondence to Hossein Fakhrzadeh.

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Tajalizadekhoob, Y., Sharifi, F., Fakhrzadeh, H. et al. The effect of low-dose omega 3 fatty acids on the treatment of mild to moderate depression in the elderly: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 261, 539–549 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-011-0191-9

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