title: A double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial comparing eicosapentaenoic acid versus docosahexaenoic acid for depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare 2 omega-3 (n-3) preparations enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) versus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as monotherapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) in a 2-site, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  196 adults (53% female; mean [SD] age = 44.7 [13.4] years) with DSM-IV MDD and a baseline 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) score ≥ 15 were randomized equally from May 18, 2006, to June 30, 2011, to 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with oral EPA-enriched n-3 1000 mg/d, DHA-enriched n-3 1,000 mg/d, or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  154 subjects completed the study. Modified intent-to-treat (mITT) analysis (n = 177 subjects with ≥ 1 postbaseline visit; 59.3% female, mean [SD] age 45.8 [12.5] years) employed mixed-model repeated measures (MMRM). All 3 groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the HDRS-17 (primary outcome measure), 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR-16), and Clinical Global Improvement-Severity Scale (CGI-S) (P < .05), but neither n-3 preparation separated from placebo (P > .05). Response and remission rates were in the range of 40%-50% and 30%, respectively, for all treatments, with no significant differences between groups. One subject receiving EPA-enriched n-3 discontinued due to worsening depression, and 1 subject receiving placebo discontinued due to an unspecified "negative reaction" to pills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither EPA-enriched nor DHA-enriched n-3 was superior to placebo for the treatment of MDD.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00517036.
authors.affiliation: 1 Bowdoin Sq, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02114 dmischoulon@partners.org.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mischoulon
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nierenberg
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schettler
authors.forename: Becky L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kinkead
authors.forename: Kiki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fehling
authors.forename: Max A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martinson
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hyman Rapaport
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid