Poole, UK—Some studies have suggested a role for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in treating major depressive disorder. New research published in the Cochrane Library, however, concludes that there is insufficient evidence for the use of taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement in treating the disorder. For the study, researchers form Bournemouth University and colleagues used data from 26 randomized trials involving a total of 1,458 participants. The trials investigated the impact of giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement in a capsule form and compared it to a placebo. In one study, involving 40 participants, they also investigated the impact of the same supplementation compared to an antidepressant treatment. Results indicate that, while patients who were given omega-3 fatty acids reported lower symptom scores than people with the placebo, the effect was small. In addition, there were important limitations that undermined researchers’ confidence in the results.

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