Lipids in the Treatment of Mental Disorders

The hypothesis that omega-3 fatty acids may play a role in preventing and treating depression is based on correlative associations between fish consumption, omega-3 fatty acid intake and the prevalence of major depressive disorder. Reduced omega-3 fatty acid erythrocyte levels have been found in individuals with depressive disorders. These observational findings are unable to establish a causal relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and depression. The results of randomized controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acids for depressive disorders are inconclusive and also fail to prove causation. The therapeutic efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids appears to be moderate at best but is more likely to be minimal or non-existent. Potential long-term adverse effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation should be considered. Large-scale, well-controlled clinical trials are required to establish potential anti-depressive effects of omega-3 fatty acids. Such studies need to consider baseline values of omega-3 fatty acids and symptom severity, the dosage and types of the fatty acids used, the duration of supplementation and the concomitant use of medication. Conclusive evidence of the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in depression is currently lacking. The recommendation of potentially ineffective therapies may have considerable opportunity costs, with other possibly more useful treatments remaining unutilized.

Section: Rationale For the Use Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids In Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are omega-3 fatty acids efficacious in the treatment of depression? A review

Lange¹,

Nakamura²,

Zhao³

et al. 2021

“…Several dietary interventions, including gluten-free and casein-free diets (Lange et al, 2015;Reissmann et al, 2020) and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (Lange, 2020a), have been suggested as complementary and alternative medicine treatments in ASD. However, in view of the less than convincing evidence in support of these dietary approaches, it would be premature to recommend them as alternatives in the management of ASD (Lange, 2020d;Reissmann et al, 2020).…”

Section: Gut Microbiota In Mental Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there a role of gut microbiota in mental health?

Lange¹,

Lange²,

Nakamura³

et al. 2020

Self Cite

Research on the interaction between gut microbiota and the brain may have implications for our understanding of brain function, cognition, behavior and mental health. The literature on gut microbiota and its role in the pathophysiology and potential treatment of mental disorders has proliferated in recent years. Several neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, have been linked to the gut microbiota. The present perspective discusses the promise and pitfalls of gut microbiota research in relation to mental health. The manipulation of intestinal microbes in animals has revealed connections between gut microbiota and both normal and pathological brain functions. The hope fueling this research is that gut microbiota could be harnessed to prevent and treat mental disorders. The links observed between an imbalance of gut microbiota and impaired behavioral and mental states in humans are correlational. It is therefore essential to establish cause and effect relationships. No distinct gut microbiota patterns linked to different mental disorders have yet been identified. Large-scale, longitudinal trials need to examine whether the gut microbiota is a valid therapeutic target for mental disorders and whether pre-clinical findings and initial results of intervention trials (e.g., administration of probiotics) are of clinical relevance.

“…The need for the development of further medications and novel approaches to the prevention and treatment of depression has therefore been emphasized (Insel, 2015;Miller, 2010). Diet and nutrition have been found not only to be critically involved in the promotion of metabolic health (Bennett et al, 2015), but also to play a role in mental health and to be capable of modifying mental disorders (Lange, 2018;Lange, 2020a;Marx et al, 2017). The risk of depression appears to be inversely associated with the Mediterranean diet (Lai et al, 2014;Opie et al, 2015;Psaltopoulou et al, 2013), while Western diets have been reported to be positively correlated with depression (Lai et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of vitamin D in depression

Lange

Nakamura

et al. 2021

Self Cite

Vitamin D has increasingly been associated with the pathophysiology of mental illness and has been suggested to have beneficial effects on depression in adults. Epidemiological studies concerning vitamin D and depression have found inconsistent results and many have significant methodological limitations. The available evidence suggests that depressed individuals show reduced vitamin D concentrations compared to controls without depression. Despite the available findings suggesting that hypovitaminosis D elevates the risk of depressive mood, the evidence of observational and interventional studies is insufficient to establish causality between low vitamin D levels and the occurrence of depression. The question of whether vitamin D sufficiency has protective efficacy against incident depression or recurrence requires future investigation. In order to examine the therapeutic efficacy of vitamin D, further well-designed, large-scale, long-term intervention trials of vitamin D supplementation in people of different age groups with depressive symptoms, diagnosed depression, postpartum depression or other depressive disorders are warranted. In short, current evidence cannot definitively establish whether vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor in the development of depression or whether vitamin D is effective in the treatment of depression.