title: The role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) in affective disorders.
abstract: Among emerging treatments for depressive disorders several studies suggested that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) supplementation can be used. However, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) differ in terms of biochemistry, metabolism and therapeutic effects. Therefore, a clear picture of their specific and different role on affective disorders has not yet emerged.
  
  
  
  To investigate the effects of n-3PUFAs on affective disorders including major depression, bipolar disorder and perinatal depression.
  
  
  
  a comprehensive search on PUBMED, Medline and PsychINFO of all RCTs using n-3PUFAs patients with depressive symptoms published up to April 2016 was performed. We included trials that examined unipolar or bipolar disorder and trials that investigated depressive symptoms in relation to pregnancy. Trials were excluded if the depressive symptomatology was related to other primary organic diseases.
  
  
  
  264 RCT studies were identified but only 36 met the inclusion criteria. First, it has been reported that n-3PUFAs supplementation might have clinical benefits on depressive symptoms. Second, EPA supplement, rather than DHA, seems to be more effective in treating major depression. Third, n-3PUFAs can have beneficial effects in bipolar depression but not in perinatal depression.
  
  
  
  there are only some evidence on the efficacy of n-3PUFAs in affective disorders especially to unipolar and bipolar depression not powered enough to confirm a therapeutic effect for affective disorder. Therefore, further studies with larger and more homogeneous samples, are required to confirm these effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ciappolino
authors.affiliation: IRCCS "E. Medea" Scientific Institute, San Vito al Tagliamento, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delvecchio
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Cà Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20121 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostoni
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Cà Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20121 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzocchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo Carlo
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Texas at Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: paolo.brambilla1@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brambilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Bipolar disorder; DHA; Depression; EPA; Mood disorders; Omega3; Post-partum; Pregnancy; Puerperium; n-3PUFAs