A new meta-analysis that supports the link between intake of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, the kind found in fish, and reduction in major depressive disorder. (File photo)
WASHINGTON DC, US: University of Amsterdam researcher has studied the new meta-analysis that supports the link between intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids, the kind found in fish, and education in major depressive disorder (MDD).
Dr Roel JT Mocking, the study’s lead author and researcher at the program for mood disorders, department of psychiatry at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands has published his work in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
The meta-analysis included 13 studies with 1,233 participants and, according to the authors, showed a benefit for EPA and DHA comparable to effects reported in meta-analyses of antidepressants. The effect was greater in studies supplementing higher doses of EPA and performed in patients already on antidepressants.
“This new meta-analysis nuances earlier research on the importance of long chain omega-3s in MDD management,” said Roel. “Omega-3 supplements may be specifically effective in the form of EPA in depressed patients using antidepressants. This could be a next step to personalizing the treatment for depression and other disorders.”
Additionally, this study underscores the importance of EPA and DHA omega-3s for overall health and well-being, and supports an existing body of research on the connection between omega-3s and depression.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a major cause of disease burden worldwide, affecting an estimated 350 million people.
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