Omega-3 Fatty Acids Studied for Mood

Omega-3 fatty acids improve mood in elderly subjects, researchers recently reported. Elderly individuals are at increased risk of mood imbalances. Previous research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids may improve mood imbalances, although the data was unclear in elderly populations.

In this new double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the subjects included 66 adults age 65 years or older with mild to moderate mood changes. The subjects were supplemented with a fish oil capsule containing 300 mg of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or a placebo for 6 months. The subjects included in the study had Mini Mental State Exam scores of 22 or greater and had Geriatric Depression Scale-15 scores between 5 and 11.

At the beginning of the study, the supplementation and placebo group showed no difference in regards to level of education, use of mood-stabilizing medications, alcohol use, tobacco use, history of chronic diseases, age, body mass index (BMI), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP, a marker of inflammation), total cholesterol and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 scores.

The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in Geriatric Depression Scale-15 scores between the group receiving omega-3 fatty acids and the placebo group, after controlling for cholesterol, BMI and history of thyroid dysfunctions. The study indicated that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids was clinically more effective in treating mood imbalances compared to placebo.

The researchers concluded that low-dose omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids had some efficacy in reducing mild to moderate mood changes in elderly subjects.

Reference:

Tajalizadekhoob Y, Sharifi F, Fakhrzadeh H, Mirarefin M, Ghaderpanahi M, Badamchizade Z, Azimipour S. 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. 2011 Feb 12. Published Online Ahead of Print.