The effects of powdered fertilized eggs on depression

A double-blind, randomized pilot study for comparison of Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. with Fluoxetine for the treatment of depression

Background

Depression has rapidly progressed worldwide, and the need for an efficient treatment with low side effect has risen. Melissa officinalis L and Lavandula angustifolia Mill have been traditionally used in Asia for the treatment of depression. Many textbooks of traditional Persian medicine refer to these herbs for the treatment of depression while there are no adequate clinical trials to support this claim.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of M. officinalis and L. angustifolia compared to fluoxetine for the treatment of mild to moderate depression in an 8-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Methods

Forty-five adult outpatients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) for major depression, were randomly assigned to 3 groups to daily receive either M. officinalis (2 g) or L. angustifolia (2 g) or fluoxetine (20 mg) and were assessed in weeks 0, 2, 4 and 8 by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) including 17 items.

Results

Our study showed that M. officinalis and L. angustifolia effect similar to fluoxetine in mild to moderate depression. (F = 0.131, df = 2,42, p = 0.877).

Conclusion

Due to some restrictions in this study including absence of placebo group, large-scale trials are needed to investigate the anti-depressant effect of these two herbs with more details.

Trial registration

IRCT2014061718126N1. Registration date: 2015-06-04-“Retrospectively registered”.

Orally administered whole egg demonstrates antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming test on rats

OBJECTIVE

Several studies have reported that vegetarian diets are associated with a higher prevalence of major depression. Therefore, we hypothesised that the consumption of animal products, especially eggs, may have positive effects on mental health, especially on major depression, because a previous study reported that egg consumption produces numerous beneficial effects in humans. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of chronic whole-egg treatment on depression-like behaviours in Wistar rats, a control strain, and Wistar Kyoto rats, an animal model of depression.

METHODS

In both the rats, either whole-egg solution (5 ml/kg) or distilled water (5 ml/kg) was orally administrated for 35 days. During these periods, the open-field test (OFT) was conducted on the 21st day, and a forced swimming test (FST) was enforced on the 27th and 28th days. On the 36th day, the plasma and brain were collected.

RESULTS

Chronic whole-egg treatment did not affect line crossing in the OFT, whereas it reduced the total duration of immobility in the FST on both strains. Furthermore, interestingly, the results indicated the possibility that whole-egg treatment elevated the incorporation of tryptophan into the brain, and the tryptophan concentration in the prefrontal cortex was actually increased by the treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that whole-egg treatment exerts an antidepressant-like effect in the FST. It is suggested that whole egg may be an excellent food for preventing and alleviating the conditions of major depression.

An open-label, pilot study evaluating the safety and antidepressant effects of Rellidep in major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

In 4 clinical studies of a biological tissue isolate (BTI) similar to Rellidep, the majority of subjects reported improved well-being and mood. Based on these reports of positive effect on mood in trials, an antidepressant pilot study was undertaken with the BTI Rellidep.

METHOD

Twenty-three subjects (14 women and 9 men; mean age, 44.8 years) with major depressive disorder entered an 8-week trial of Rellidep with a 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score of 18 or above. Three subjects dropped out before beginning treatment, leaving an intention-to-treat (ITT) sample of 20. Sixteen subjects completed the trial. All patients received Rellidep 1000 mg (500 mg × 2) twice a day orally daily for 8 weeks. No other treatments were permitted except for intermittent lorazepam for sleep if necessary. The primary response to treatment outcome was a 50% decline on the HAM-D. Secondary measures included the Beck Depression Inventory, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36, and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 75% (15/20). Almost 87% of those who responded did so by week 4. The data analysis of change scores indicates that for the ITT population the decrease in the HAM-D was statistically significant (P < 0.001). On all other measures, improvement from baseline was statistically significant (P < 0.001), except for the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ITT: P = 0.055). There were no significant adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

The positive outcome of this open trial indicates that Rellidep may be an effective and safe antidepressant. Further placebo-controlled trials are indicated.