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Serefko A, Jach ME, Pietraszuk M, Świąder M, Świąder K, Szopa A. Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Depression. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8675. [PMID: 39201362 PMCID: PMC11354246 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have received considerable attention in the field of mental health, in particular regarding the treatment of depression. This review presents an overview of current research on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders. The existing body of evidence demonstrates that omega-3 fatty acids, in particular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have antidepressant effects that can be attributed to their modulation of neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter function, and neuroplasticity. Nevertheless, clinical trials of omega-3 supplementation have yielded inconsistent results. Some studies have demonstrated significant reductions in depressive symptoms following omega-3 treatment, whereas others have shown minimal to no beneficial impact. A range of factors, encompassing dosage, the ratio of EPA to DHA, and baseline nutritional status, have been identified as having a potential impact on the noted results. Furthermore, it has been suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may act as an adjunctive treatment for those undergoing antidepressant treatment. Notwithstanding these encouraging findings, discrepancies in study designs and variability in individual responses underscore the necessity of further research in order to establish uniform, standardized guidelines for the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the management of depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Serefko
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki Street 7, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Monika Elżbieta Jach
- Department of Molecular Biology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów Street 1I, 20-708 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Marlena Pietraszuk
- Student Scientific Club, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki Street 7, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata Świąder
- Student Scientific Club, Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki Street 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
- Student Scientific Club, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, 8b Jaczewskiego, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Świąder
- Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki Street 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Aleksandra Szopa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki Street 7, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
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Kołodziej Ł, Czarny PL, Ziółkowska S, Białek K, Szemraj J, Gałecki P, Su KP, Śliwiński T. How fish consumption prevents the development of Major Depressive Disorder? A comprehensive review of the interplay between n-3 PUFAs, LTP and BDNF. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 92:101254. [PMID: 37820872 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
MDD (major depressive disorder) is a highly prevalent mental disorder with a complex etiology involving behavioral and neurochemical factors as well as environmental stress. The interindividual variability in response to stress stimuli may be explained by processes such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). LTP can be described as the strengthening of synaptic transmission, which translates into more efficient cognitive performance and is regulated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein responsible for promoting neural growth. It is found in high concentrations in the hippocampus, a part of the limbic system which is far less active in people with MDD. Omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) not only contribute to structural and antioxidative functions but are essential for the maintenance of LTP and stable BDNF levels. This review explores the mechanisms and potential roles of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Kołodziej
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, 90-236 Lodz, Poland; University of Lodz, Bio-Med-Chem Doctoral School of University of Lodz and Lodz Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Piotr Lech Czarny
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Sylwia Ziółkowska
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Białek
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Janusz Szemraj
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Piotr Gałecki
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University of Lodz, 91-229 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Kuan-Pin Su
- Mind-Body Interface Research Center (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan; An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 709, Taiwan.
| | - Tomasz Śliwiński
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Laboratory of Medical Genetics, 90-236 Lodz, Poland.
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Osuna E, Symington EA, Malan L, Ricci C, Zandberg L, Smuts CM, Baumgartner J. Higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status during early pregnancy is associated with lower risk for depression at 12 months postpartum: The NuPED study. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2023; 190:102528. [PMID: 36716632 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2022.102528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Perinatal depression can negatively affect the health of the mother and her offspring. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may play a role in the aetiology of depression. Therefore, we investigated the association of n-3 PUFA status during early pregnancy with perinatal depression among women living in urban Johannesburg, South Africa. For this prospective analysis, we analysed red blood cell (RBC) total phospholipid fatty acid (FA) composition (% of total FA) of 242 pregnant women at <18 weeks' gestation. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to identify women at risk for depression (EPDS score ≥9) at <18, 22 and 36 weeks' gestation, and at 6 and 12 months postpartum. RBC EPA status was negatively (β=-0.22, p<0.05), and the AA/EPA ratio positively (β=0.24, p<0.05) associated with EPDS scores at 12 months postpartum. Higher RBC DHA and n-3 index were further associated with lower odds (OR=0.56 [95% CI: 0.32-0.91]; OR=0.63 [95% CI: 0.39-0.94]), while higher n-6/n-3 PUFA and AA/EPA ratios early in pregnancy were associated with higher odds for depression at 12 months postpartum ((OR=2.34 [95% CI: 1.12-4.97]; OR=1.02 [95% CI: 1.00-1.05]). Our results suggest that women with a higher RBC n-3 PUFA status during early pregnancy may be at lower risk for depression at 12 months postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Osuna
- Laboratory of Human Nutrition, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth A Symington
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Linda Malan
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Cristian Ricci
- Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHER), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Lizelle Zandberg
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Cornelius M Smuts
- Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Jeannine Baumgartner
- Laboratory of Human Nutrition, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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13-cis-Retinoic Acid Affects Brain Perfusion and Function: In Vivo Study. Mol Imaging 2023. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/7855924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose. Study the effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-RA), a synthetic analogue of a vitamin A used for the treatment of severe acne, on the blood flow in the rat brain using technetium-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) imaging. Methods. A total of 30 adult male Wistar rats were divided into the control (C), low-dose (L), and high-dose (H) groups. The L and H rats were exposed subcutaneously to 0.3 and 0.5 mg, respectively, of 13-RA per kg of body weight for seven days. Brain blood flow imaging was performed using a gamma camera. Then, a region of interest (ROI) around the brain (target, T), a whole-body region (WB), and a background region (BG) was selected and delimited. The net 99mTc-HMPAO brain counts were calculated as the net target counts,
in all groups. At the end of the 99mTc-HMPAO brain blood flow imaging, the brain, heart, kidney, lung, and liver were rapidly removed, and their uptake was determined. Brain histopathological analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin stains. In addition, the plasma fatty acids were studied using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results. There were highly significant differences between L and H in comparison to C and across the groups. The 99mTc-HMPAO radioactivity in the brain showed increased uptake in a dose-dependent manner. There were also significant changes in the brain tissues and decreased free fatty acids among the groups compared to C. Conclusion. 13-RA increases 99mTcHMPAO brain perfusion, uptake, and function and reduces fatty acids.
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Zhu J, Jin J, Tang J. Inflammatory pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in postpartum depression. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:955672. [PMID: 36408212 PMCID: PMC9669749 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.955672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a serious psychiatric disorder of women within the first year after delivery. It grievously damages women's physical and mental health. Inflammatory reaction theory is well-established in depression, and also has been reported associated with PPD. This review summarized the inflammatory pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in PPD, including decreased T cell activation, increased proinflammatory cytokines secretion, active kynurenine pathway, and initiated NLRP3 inflammasome. Clinical and preclinical research are both gathered. Potential therapeutical alternatives targeting the inflammatory mechanisms of PPD were introduced. In addition, this review briefly discussed the differences of inflammatory mechanisms between PPD and depression. The research of inflammation in PPD is limited and seems just embarking, which indicates the direction we can further study. As a variety of risky factors contribute to PPD collectively, therapy for women with PPD should be comprehensive, and clinical heterogeneity should be taken into consideration. As PPD has a predictability, early clinical screening and interventions are also needed. This review aims to help readers better understand the inflammatory pathological mechanisms in PPD, so as to identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jing Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Sikka P, Behl T, Sharma S, Sehgal A, Bhatia S, Al-Harrasi A, Singh S, Sharma N, Aleya L. Exploring the therapeutic potential of omega-3 fatty acids in depression. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:43021-43034. [PMID: 34121162 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14884-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Omega-3 fatty acids have been acknowledged for their number of holdings on an individual's health. Not only in physical valuation but also in managing psychiatric disorders, omega-3 fatty acids have been found to be a powerful formula. It is proclaimed that depressive patients suffer anomaly with the levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body, coupled with insignificant EPA and DHA. Enhancement in brain functioning, neuronal functions, and paying attention in interacting with the brain cells are some of the additional tasks, being performed by the supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids. The leading and primary source via dietary supplementation involves the involvement of fish and fish products. These are hypothesized to be the best and dominant source for omega-3 fatty acids. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acid is well safe, that physician highly favors intake of these supplements, remarkably in the case of pregnant women. However, treating this serious life-threatening mental disorder leads to many adverse effects when treated with antidepressants. The dose range includes 1g/d to 10g/d, which is to be incorporated by the patient. It is also tested that the combination of EPA and DHA is found to be more efficacious for a person in treating and preventing depressive symptoms. Some studies verify the supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in diet was coequally productive and successful with minimal side effects when analyzed with antidepressants. Despite these facts, much research is still needed and presently in process for long-term safety and studying the role of omega-3 fatty acids in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanshi Sikka
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Tapan Behl
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India.
| | - Sanchay Sharma
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Aayush Sehgal
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Saurabh Bhatia
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Sukhbir Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Neelam Sharma
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Chrono-Environment Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France
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