Breaking News 1/26/06
VRP Staff
Researchers at the Women's Mental Health Program, University of Arizona College of Medicine, have conducted a trial that indicates omega-3 fatty acids may be useful for women who suffer from postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression affects 10 to 15 percent of mothers. In 2002, psychiatrist Joseph R. Hibbeln, M.D., one of the researchers of the current study, established a link between low omega-3 intake and a greater risk of postpartum depression and concluded that clinical studies are needed to determine if omega-3 fatty acids can have a role to play in reducing this condition.
Hibbeln and colleagues’ decided to conduct a clinical study on omega-3s and postpartum depression, which was published in January 2006. They studied the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for postpartum depression in an 8-week trial. Subjects were randomized into 3 groups that received varying dosages of omega-3 fatty acids. Six subjects consumed 0.5 grams per day, 3 subjects consumed 1.4 grams per day, and 7 subjects consumed 2.8 grams per day.
Prior to treatment, mean depression scores were 18.1 and 19.1. However, after treatment with omega-3 fatty acids, mean scores dropped to 9.3 and 10, indicating a 51.5 percent and 48.8 percent decline, depending on which depression rating scale was used. Changes from baseline were significant within each group and when combining groups. In addition, the treatment was well tolerated.
According to the researchers, “This study was limited by small sample size and lack of placebo group. However, these results support further study of omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for PPD.”
Reference:
Freeman MP, Hibbeln JR, Wisner KL, Brumbach BH, Watchman M, Gelenberg AJ. Randomized dose-ranging pilot trial of omega-3 fatty acids for postpartum depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006 Jan;113(1):31-5.
