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Updated: Jan 27, 2026
In Silico Clinical Trials for Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: May 27, 2022
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in cardiovascular diseases comorbid major depressive disorder - Results from a
Jane Pei-Chen Chang1, Shih-Sheng Chang2, Hui-Ting Yang3
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry & Mind-Body Interface Laboratory (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Insights
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) did not improve overall depression in cardiovascular disease patients. However, n-3 PUFAs significantly reduced core depression symptoms in those with very severe major depressive disorder.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are leading causes of disability.
- Comorbid depression in CVD patients is linked to lower omega-3 levels and a higher omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.
- Limited research exists on omega-3s' impact on MDD within CVD populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Main Methods:
- 59 patients with CVDs and MDD were randomized to receive n-3 PUFAs (2g EPA, 1g DHA) or placebo for 12 weeks.
- Depression severity was assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
- Blood fatty acid levels, ECG, and biochemistry were monitored at baseline and endpoint.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in overall HAMD and BDI scores between n-3 PUFAs and placebo groups.
- The n-3 PUFAs group showed improved HAMD Cognition subscale scores at week 8.
- Subgroup analysis revealed n-3 PUFAs significantly reduced HAMD Core subscale scores in very severe MDD patients (HAMD ≥ 23) by week 12.
Conclusions:
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation did not demonstrate overall benefit for depressive symptoms in CVD patients compared to placebo.
- However, n-3 PUFAs improved core depressive symptoms in a specific subgroup: patients with very severe MDD.
- N-3 PUFAs may represent a potential therapeutic option for a subset of CVD patients experiencing severe comorbid MDD.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and major depressive disorder (MDD) will be the two most disabling diseases by 2030. Patients with CVDs comorbid depression had lower levels of total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and a higher omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. However, there have been limited studies on the effects n-3 PUFAs on MDD in patients with CVDs.
Method:
We have enrolled a total of 59 patients (64% males, mean age of 61.5 ± 9.0 years and mean education of 10.2 ± 4.2 years) with CVDs comorbid MDD. They were randomized into either receiving n-3 PUFAs (2 g per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1 g of DHA) or placebo for 12 weeks. We assessed depression symptom severity with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), as well as blood fatty acid levels, electrocardiogram and blood biochemistry, at the baseline and at the endpoint.
Results:
There were no differences between the n-3 PUFAs and placebo group in the changes of HAMD and BDI total scores, while PUFAs group had a greater reduction in HAMD Cognition subscale scores than the placebo group at week 8 (p < 0.05). Moreover, subgroup analyses found that the n-3 group had a greater reduction of HAMD Core subscale scores than the placebo group at the end of week 12 (p < 0.05) for the very severe DEP group (HAMD ≥ 23).
Conclusion:
Overall, n-3 PUFAs did not show a beneficial effect on depressive symptoms when compared with placebo. However, when stratified with depression severity, n-3 PUFAs supplementation improved core depression symptoms in the very severe MDD group. N-3 PUFAs supplementation may provide a treatment option for a subpopulation of patients with CVDs comorbid MDD.
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