title: Comparison between the AA/EPA ratio in depressed and non depressed elderly females: omega-3 fatty acid supplementation correlates with improved symptoms but does not change immunological parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is one of the most frequently missed diagnoses in elderly people, with obvious negative effects on quality of life. Various studies have shown that long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may be useful in its management. Our objective was to evaluate whether a supplement containing n-3 PUFA improves depressive symptoms in depressed elderly patients, and whether the blood fatty acid pattern is correlated with these changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The severity of depressive symptoms according to the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), blood fatty acid composition and erythrocyte phospholipids were analyzed in 46 depressed females aged 66-95y, diagnosed with depression according to DSMIV, within the context of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 22 depressed females were included in the intervention group (2.5 g/day of n-3 PUFA for 8 weeks), and 24 in the placebo group. We also measured immunological parameters (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19 and cytokines (IL-5, IL-15).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GDS score and AA/EPA ratio, in whole blood and RBC membrane phospholipids, were significantly lower after 2 months supplementation with n-3 PUFA. A significant correlation between the amelioration of GDS and the AA/EPA ratio with some immunological parameters, such as CD2, CD19, CD4, CD16 and the ratio CD4/CD8, was also found. Nevertheless, omega-3 supplementation did not significantly improve the studied immunological functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  n-3 PUFA supplementation ameliorates symptoms in elderly depression. The n-3 PUFA status may be monitored by means of the determination of whole blood AA/EPA ratio.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via D, Trentacoste 2, Milan 20134, Italy. angelamaria.rizzo@unimi.it
authors.forename: Angela Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Paola Antonia
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Corsetto
authors.forename: Gigliola
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montorfano
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Opizzi
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faliva
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacosa
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricevuti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelucchi
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berra
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rondanelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid