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Efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs in depression: A meta-analysis.

Meta-analysis of 26 double-blind placebo-controlled trials (n=2,160): pooled small beneficial effect of omega-3 PUFAs on depression symptom scales (SMD −0.28, P=0.004), with abstract-reported stronger signals for EPA-pure and EPA-major (≥60% EPA) formulations at ≤1 g/day.

Design

  • Meta-analysis of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials through 20 Dec 2017
  • Corpus: 26 studies; 2160 participants
  • Exposure: omega-3 PUFA supplements (EPA/DHA mixes and EPA-dominant products)

Pooled depression signal

  • Overall SMD = −0.28 (P = 0.004) favouring omega-3 vs placebo on depression scales
  • Abstract highlights EPA-pure and EPA-major (≥60% EPA) benefits at ≤1 g/day with larger magnitude SMDs in subgroup framing (read primary tables)

Evidence hygiene

  • Psychiatric adjunct evidence tier—do not substitute for cardiovascular outcome trials or clinician-managed MDD care pathways.

Publication

Liao Y, Xie B, Zhang H, et al. Transl Psychiatry. 2019 Aug 5;9(1):190. PMID 31383846.

Outcomes

  • Effect Size (Cohen's d / SMD)
    -0.28
    d (Cohen's d)
View original paper →