title: Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on depression and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
abstract: Depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are closely interrelated among hemodialysis (HD) patients and associated with negative impacts on patients' clinical outcomes. Considering previous reports on clinical benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in major depression and HRQoL in other patient populations, this study examined effects of omega-3 fatty acids on depression and HRQoL in chronic HD patients. In this randomized placebo-controlled trial, 40 adult patients with a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score of ≥16 and HD vintage of at least 3 months were randomized to ingest 6 soft-gel capsules of either omega-3 fatty acids (180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid in each capsule) or corresponding placebo, daily for 4 months. At baseline and after 4 months, 2 questionnaires of BDI and the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey were completed by each patient. Although baseline BDI score was comparable between the 2 groups, it was significantly lower in the omega-3 group compared with the placebo group at the end of the study (P = 0.008). Except for mental health, social functioning, and general health, other domains of HRQoL showed significant improvement in the omega-3 group compared with the placebo group at month 4 of the study (P < 0.05 for all). Regression analysis revealed that ameliorated BDI score by omega-3 treatment had considerable role in the improvement of overall HRQoL score, physical and mental component dimensions, and score of physical functioning, role-physical, and bodily pain. Supplemental use of omega-3 fatty acids in HD patients with depressive symptoms seems to be efficacious in improving depressive symptoms and HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Nephrology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Faculty of Pharmacy, International Branch, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; and 5Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dashti-Khavidaki
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gharekhani
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khatami
authors.forename: Elham-Sadat
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Effat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Razeghi
authors.forename: Seyed-Saeed
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hashemi-Nazari
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mansournia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid