JACN
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rondanelli, M.
Right arrow Articles by Rizzo, A. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rondanelli, M.
Right arrow Articles by Rizzo, A. M.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 29, No. 1, 55-64 (2010)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms and on Health-Related Quality of Life in the Treatment of Elderly Women with Depression: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

Mariangela Rondanelli, PhD, Attilio Giacosa, MD, Annalisa Opizzi, Claudio Pelucchi, ScD, Carlo La Vecchia, MD, Gigliola Montorfano, Manuela Negroni, Bruno Berra, PhD, Pierluigi Politi, PhD and Angela Maria Rizzo, PhD

Department of Applied Health Sciences, Section of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Pavia Pavia
Section of Psychiatry, University of Pavia Pavia
Faculty of Medicine, Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, Azienda di Servizi alla Persona di Pavia, University of Pavia Pavia
Department of Gastroenterology and Nutritional Science, Policlinico di Monza Milan ITALY
"Mario Negri" Institute for Pharmacological Research Milan ITALY
Institute of General Physiology and Biochemistry "G. Esposito", University of Milan Milan ITALY

Address reprint requests to: Mariangela Rondanelli, Department of Applied Health Sciences, Section of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine, Azienda di Servizi alla Persona di Pavia, University of Pavia, Istituto di Cura "Santa Margherita", Via Emilia 32, 27100 Pavia, ITALY. E-mail: serv.nutrizione{at}asppavia.it or mariangela.rondanelli{at}unipv.it

Objective In elderly individuals, depression is one of the most frequently missed diagnoses with negative effects on quality of life. The authors investigated whether a supplement containing long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) improves depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in depressed elderly patients.

Design Eight-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting Nursing home in Pavia, Italy.

Participants Forty-six depressed women, aged 66–95 years.

Intervention Twenty-two depressed women were included in the intervention group (n-3 group, which received 2.5 g/d of n-3 LCPUFA, with 1.67 g of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and 0.83 g of docosahesaenoic acid [DHA]), and 24 patients were included in the placebo group. The primary endpoint was the improvement of depressive symptoms, as evaluated by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Secondary endpoints were the evaluation of HRQoL, by using the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36), and modifications of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids fatty acid profile. All variables were assessed before and after the treatment period of 8 weeks.

Results The mean GDS at 8 weeks was significantly lower compared with the n-3 group. The SF-36 physical and mental components were significantly increased in the intervention group. Compliance was good, as confirmed by erythrocyte membrane phospholipid FA concentrations, with a significant increase of EPA and DHA in the intervention group.

Conclusion Supplementation with n-3 LCPUFA is efficacious in the amelioration of depressive symptoms and quality of life in the treatment of depressed elderly female patients.

Key words: n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, depression, elderly, AA/EPA






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2010 by the American College of Nutrition.