In addition to emphasizing neurological benefits of EPA and DHA omega-3s, this study underscores their importance for overall health and well-being of your patients.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a major cause of disease burden worldwide, affecting an estimated 350 million people.
A new meta analysis has recently been published in Translational Psychiatry. Based on the results of 13 studies and 1,233 total participants, it supports the link between intake of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids and reduction in the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD).
“This new meta-analysis nuances earlier research on the importance of long chain omega-3s in MDD management,” says Dr. Roel JT Mocking, the study’s lead author and researcher at the Program for Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. “Omega-3 supplements may be specifically effective in the form of EPA in depressed patients using antidepressants. This could be a next step to personalizing the treatment for depression and other disorders.”
