title: Are Supplementation of Omega-3 and Ascorbic Acid Effective in Reducing Oxidative Stress and Depression among Depressed Shift Workers?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the effect of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids and ascorbic acid alone and in combination on the level of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA concentration), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and depression scores in depressed rotational shift workers in the Tehran Shahid Tondgoyan Oil refinery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 136 men who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and had a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score ≥ 10 were selected. Among the participants, 33 received omega-3 fatty acid soft gel (1000 mg twice daily) with vitamin C (250 mg twice daily) (group 1), 31 took omega-3 fatty acid supplements and vitamin C placebo (group 2), 30 took omega-3 fatty acid supplement placebo and vitamin C (group 3), and 32 received omega-3 fatty acid supplement placebo and vitamin C placebo (group 4) for 2 months. Measured were serum MDA, TAC concentrations, and BDI scores at baseline and after 2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed that the BDI score was reduced significantly in all 4 groups, however, the level of decrease was more in the omega-3 fatty acid (alone) supplementation group (mean 6.29 score decrease) (p < 0.001). MDA level decreased significantly in groups with omega-3 fatty acids (mean 0.78 μmol/L ± 1.64 μmol/L decrease) (p = 0.014) or vitamin C supplementation alone (mean 0.74 μmol/L ± 1.55 μmol/L decrease) (p = 0.014), but not in combination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids alone and not in combination with vitamin C had a better impact on depression and MDA level pronounced in depressed male shift workers.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Community Medicine, School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khajehnasiri
authors.affiliation: 2 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhondzadeh
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Occupational Health, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Bagher
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mortazavi
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolamir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allameh
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gity
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sotoudeh
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Occupational Health, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khavanin
authors.affiliation: 7 Department of occupational Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zamanian
keywords: antioxidant; depression; malondialdehyde; shift workers; total antioxidant capacity