Depression in Parkinson's disease: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of omega-3 fatty-acid supplementation

Back-round: Effect of fish oil supplementation in parkinsonian patients with depression measured by Montgomery-Asberg Rating Scale (MADRS). the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BECK). Method: Double-blind, placebo-controlled study analyzed depression in 31 patients with Parkinson's Disease and Major Depression (DSM-IV) The patients were double-blind separated in 2 groups that received fish oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids) or mineral oil capsules for 3 months; each group was separated in 2 new groups: one taking antidepressant medication and another one not taking it. Results: 29 patients completed the 12-week trial, 58% were female and the mean age was 64.4 years old, Patients supplemented with fish oil showed a significant decrease in MADRS and CGI-Depression scores, and there was no difference among groups in BDI. 14 patients (42%) met criteria for >= 50% reduction in MADRS score, 7 patients (22%) met criteria for remission (final MADRS total score <= 12). and 2 patients (6%) discontinued supplementation of fish oil. HPLC analysis of fatty-acid profile showed increase of omega-3 fatty acid in the erythrocyte membrane of patients taking fish oil. Conclusion: These results reveal that PD patients taking fish oil. with or Without antidepressants, presented improvement in depressive symptoms and indicate that the intake of omega-3 Can be used with an antidepressant effect or as adjuvant therapy with some other medication. This is a first pilot study with parkinsonian patients and omega-3 supplementation and requires replication in a larger sample. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.