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Improvement of Major Depression is Associated with Increased Erythrocyte DHA

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  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if changes in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status following tuna oil supplementation correlated with changes in scores of depression. A total of 95 volunteers receiving treatment for major depression were randomised to consume 8 × 1 g capsules per day of HiDHA (2 g DHA, 0.6 g EPA and 10 mg Vitamin E) or olive oil (placebo) for 16 weeks, whilst undergoing weekly counseling sessions by trained clinical psychologists using a standard empirically validated psychotherapy. Depression status was assessed using the 17 item Hamilton rating scale for depression and the Beck Depression Inventory by a psychodiagnostician who was blind to the treatment. Blood was taken at baseline and 16 weeks (n = 48) for measurement of erythrocyte fatty acids. With HiDHA supplementation, erythrocyte DHA content rose from 4.1 ± 0.2 to 7.9 ± 0.4 % (mean ± SEM, p < 0.001) of total fatty acids but did not change (4.0 ± 0.2 to 4.1 ± 0.2 %) in the olive oil group. The mean changes in scores of depression did not differ significantly between the two groups (−12.2 ± 2.1 for tuna oil and −14.4 ± 2.3 for olive oil). However, analysis of covariance showed that in the fish oil group there was a significant correlation (r = −0.51) between the change in erythrocyte DHA and the change in scores of depression (p < 0.05). Further study of the relationship between DHA and depression is warranted.

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Abbreviations

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3)

DPA:

Docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3)

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3)

LC n-3 PUFA:

Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Clover Corporation for providing fish oil and olive oil capsules and providing partial financial support for this project. The assistance of a University of Wollongong Matching Scholarship scheme (to T. Crowe) and the Australian Research Council Smart Foods Key Centre funding is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metabolic Research Centre, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Barbara J. Meyer & Alice J. Owen

  2. Smart Foods Centre, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Barbara J. Meyer, Brin F. S. Grenyer, Trevor Crowe, Alice J. Owen, Elizabeth M. Grigonis-Deane & Peter R. C. Howe

  3. School of Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Barbara J. Meyer

  4. Illawarra Institute for Mental Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    Brin F. S. Grenyer & Trevor Crowe

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Monash, VIC, Australia

    Alice J. Owen

  6. Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia

    Peter R. C. Howe

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  1. Barbara J. Meyer
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  2. Brin F. S. Grenyer
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  4. Alice J. Owen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara J. Meyer.

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Meyer, B.J., Grenyer, B.F.S., Crowe, T. et al. Improvement of Major Depression is Associated with Increased Erythrocyte DHA. Lipids 48, 863–868 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-013-3801-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-013-3801-7

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