A double-blind dose-finding pilot study of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for major depressive disorder

Background Paper on Fat and Fatty Acid Requirements during Pregnancy and Lactation

“…A dose-response study of 35 adults (ages 42 8 14 years) evaluated the efficacy of 1, 2, and 4 g/day DHA on improvement in depression, finding best efficacy for 1 g/day and significant but less improvement for 2 g/day; no improvement was found at the higher dose [Mischoulon et al, 2008]. Fortynine adults of both genders and with a history of recurrent self-harm were randomized to supplements of mixed EPA + DHA (1.2/0.9 g) for 12 weeks and showed improvements in scores for depression, suicidality, and daily stresses [Hallahan et al, 2007].…”

Update and Critique of Natural Remedies as Antidepressant Treatments

“…Regarding DHA, one placebo-controlled study with 36 subjects showed lack of efficacy of DHA monotherapy, 2 g/d, for depression [93]. A three-armed dose-finding study of DHA monotherapy [94] demonstrated greater efficacy for DHA doses of 1 g/day compared to 2 g/day and 4 g/day, which, similarly to Peet and Horrobin's study of EPA, suggests a therapeutic window for DHA as well as EPA. A prospective large scale study [97] found no association between fish intake or n-3 intake and risk of post-partum depression.…”

ω-3 and major depression: a review

“…The results of randomised and blind studies about major depression and v-3 supplementation have shown contradictory results: some studies found an apparent antidepressant effect, with significant statistical difference among groups who have received v-3 and those who received placebo, what showed the benefits of v-3 as adjuvant treatment in major depression (7)(8)(9)(78)(79)(80)(81), whereas other studies have presented negative results and evident differences among the groups that were not observed (82)(83)(84).…”