Study | N | Setting | Participants (gender, age) | Comorbidities | Adjunct therapy | Intervention (n-3PUFAs, dose) | Comparison* | Duration | Depressive symptomology measure used in analyses | Adverse events included in analyses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bot et al, 201051 | 25 | Clinical, The Netherlands | 52% female, mean age=54 years | ✓ | ✓ | EPA—1 g/day | Rapeseed oil+medium chain triglycerides | 12 weeks | MADRS | ✓ |
Carney et al, 200952 | 122 | Clinical, USA | 34% female, mean age=58 years | ✓ | ✓ | EPA/DHA—0.93/0.75 g/day | Corn oil | 10 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Coryell unpublished (1.14 g/day)46 | 11 (across both studies) | Clinical/community, USA | 82% female, mean age=29 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA/DHA—0.74/0.4 g/day | Oil | 6 weeks | MADRS | ✓ |
Coryell unpublished (2.28 g/day)46 | 11 (across both studies) | Clinical/community, USA | 82% female, mean age=29 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA/DHA—1.48/0.8 g/day | Oil | 6 weeks | MADRS | ✓ |
da Silva et al, 2005 (AD)47 | 31 (across both studies) | Community, Brazil | 58% female, mean age=64 years | ✓ | ✓ | EPA/DHA—0.72/0.48 g/day | Mineral oil | 12 weeks | MADRS | ✓ |
da Silva et al, 2005 (nAD)47 | 31 (across both studies) | Community, Brazil | 58% female, mean age=64 years | ✓ | X | EPA/DHA—0.72/0.48 g/day | Mineral oil | 12 weeks | MADRS | ✓ |
Gertsik et al, 201253 | 42 | Clinical/community, USA | unknown gender distribution, mean age=41 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA/DHA/other n-3PUFAs—1.8/0.4/0.2 g/day | Olive oil | 8 weeks | HDRS (21 item) | ✓ |
Gharekhani et al, 201454 | 54 | Clinical, Iran | Completers—44% female, mean age=57 years | ✓ | X | EPA/DHA—1.08/0.72 g/day | Parrafin oil | 16 weeks | BDI | ✓ |
Gonzalez et al, 201155 | 20 | Setting not reported, Venezuela | Completers—80% female, mean age=39 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA—3 g/day | Not reported | 8 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | X |
Grenyer et al, 200723 | 83 | Clinical, Australia | 61% female, mean age=45 years | Possible | Possible | EPA/DHA—0.56/2.2 g/day | Olive oil | 16 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Jazayeri et al 2008, (placebo)48 | 60 (across both studies) | Clincal, Iran | Competers—69% female, mean age=35 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA—1 g/day | Rapeseed oil | 8 weeks | HDRS (24 item) | X |
Jazayeri et al, 2008, (AD)48 | 60 (across both studies) | Clincal, Iran | Competers—69% female, mean age=35 years | Possible | X | EPA—1 g/day | 20 mg fluoxetine | 8 weeks | HDRS (24 item) | X |
Lesperance et al, 201156 | 432 | Clinical/community, Canada | 69% female, mean age=46 years | Possible | Possible | EPA/DHA—1.05/0.15 g/day | Sunflower oil plus 2% fish oil | 8 weeks | MADRS | ✓ |
Lucas et al, 200945 | 29 | Community, Canada | 100% female, mean age=50 years | Possible | X | EPA/DHA—1.05/0.15 g/day | Sunflower oil plus 2% fish oil | 8 weeks | HDRS (21 item) | ✓ |
Marangell et al, 200357 | 36 | Setting not reported | Completers—80% female, mean age=47 years | X | X | DHA—2 g/day | Not reported | 6 weeks | HDRS (28 item) | X |
Mischoulon et al, 200958 | 41 | Clinical, USA | Completed one postbaseline visit—63% female, mean age=43 years | X | Possible | EPA—1 g/day | Parrafin oil | 8 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Mischoulon et al, 2015 (DHA)49 | 196 (across both studies) | Clinical, USA | Completed one postbaseline visit—59% female, mean age=46 years | Possible | X | EPA/DHA/other n-3PUFAs—0.18/0.9/0.144 g/day | Soybean oil | 8 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Mischoulon et al, 2015 (EPA)49 | 196 (across both studies) | Clinical, USA | Completed one postbaseline visit—59% female, mean age=46 years | Possible | X | EPA/DHA/other n-3PUFAs—1.06/0.274/0.102 g/day | Soybean oil | 8 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Nemets et al, 200213 | 20 | Setting not reported | 85% female, mean age=53 years | Possible | Possible | EPA—2 g/day | Not reported | 4 weeks | HDRS (24 item) | ✓ |
Park et al, 201559 | 35 | Clinical, Korea | 77% female, mean age=39 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA/DHA—3.42/1.8 g/day | Safflower oil plus oleic acid | 12 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Peet and Horrobin, 2002 (1 g/day)50 | 70 (across three studies) | Clinical/community, UK | Gender distribution unknown, mean age=45 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA—1 g/day | Parrafin oil | 12 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Peet and Horrobin, 2002 (2 g/day)50 | 70 (across three studies) | Clinical/community, UK | Gender distribution unknown, mean age=45 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA—2 g/day | Parrafin oil | 12 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Peet and Horrobin, 2002 (4 g/day)50 | 70 (across three studies) | Clinical/community, UK | Gender distribution unknown, mean age=45 years | Possible | ✓ | EPA—4 g/day | Parrafin oil | 12 weeks | HDRS (17 item) | ✓ |
Rondanelli et al, 201060 | 46 | Nursing home, Italy | 100% female, mean age=84 years | Possible | Possible | EPA/DHA/other n-3PUFAs—1.67/0.83/0.63 g/day | Parrafin oil | 8 weeks | GDS | ✓ |
Silvers et al, 200524 | 77 | Clinical/community, New Zealand | 53% female, mean age=39 years | Possible | Possible | EPA/DHA—0.6/2.4 g/day | Olive oil | 12 weeks | HDRS-SF (12 item) | ✓ |
Su et al, 200314 | 28 | Clinical, Taiwan | Completers—82% female, mean age=38 years | X | Possible | EPA/DHA—4.4/2.2 g/day | Olive oil | 8 weeks | HDRS (21 item) | ✓ |
*Comparison provided in a similar dose to that provided for the intervention.
BDI, Beck Depression Inventory;63 DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; GDS, Geriatric Depression Scale;64 HDRS, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale;62 MADRS, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale; n-3PUFA, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid.61