Latest Research on EPA and Depression, Autism, ADHD and Related Disorders
Dr. Matti Tolonen compiled this table containing the latest research on EPA or EPA/DHA abd neurological disorders:
| Author/Link | Condition | Studied # patients | Fish oil dose (grams/d) | Outcome |
| Wozniak et al 2007, USA |
Bipolar | 20 children, 6–17 yrs, no controls |
1,3–4,3 g EPA+DHA 8 weeks |
Significant but modest reduction in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) |
| Frangou et al 2006, UK | Bipolar | 75/placebo | 1 g/d E-EPA 2 g/d E-EPA 12 weeks |
Significant improvement in both groups as compared to placebo and baseline status |
| Andrew Stoll et al, 1999 USA |
Bipolar, recently in remission | 80/placebo | 9.6 g E-EPA + E-DHA 4 months |
Relapse rate sharply reduced by Omega-3 |
| Nemets et al, 2002 Israel |
Depressed (mean age 54 yrs) |
10 E-EPA 10 placebo (28–73 yrs) 4 weeks |
2 g E-EPA (96%) + 0.2% vitamin E | Highly significant benefits by week 3 in HDRS |
| Peet an Horrobin, 2002 England and Scottland |
Depressed despite of “adequate” medication |
70/placebo (18–70 yrs) 17 to 18 patients in each group |
1, 2, 4 g E-EPA 12 weeks |
1-gram group did best; 2 gms did not improve, 4 gms trended better in HDRS |
| Zanarini et al, 2003 USA |
“Borderline”, women | 30/placebo | 1 g E-EPA | Decreased aggression, depression |
| LLorente et al, 2003 USA |
Postpartum depression | 44 DHA 45 placebo |
200 mg DHA | Plasma DHA increase 8%, no effect on depression |
| Marangell et al, 2003 USA |
Depressed | 17 DHA 18 placebo |
2 g DHA | At 6 weeks, a trend but not significant benefit |
| Su, 2003 China |
Major depression (mean age 35 yrs) |
14 omega-3 14placebo 8 weeks |
9,6 g = 4,4 g EPA 2.2 g DHA (10 caps/d) |
Significant benefits versus placebo by week 4, bigger yet by week 8 |
| Chiu, 2003 | Depressed, pregnant case report | one | 4 g E-EPA 2 g DHA |
Improvement by week 4, better yet by week 6 |
| Sagduyu et al. 2005 USA |
Bipolar | 37/no placebo | 2,8 g DPA+EPA | less irritability |
| Sagduyu, 2003 (letter, Psychiatric Times, March 2003 pg 9), USA | Bipolar | 19/ no placebo | 0.5 to 6 g | less irritability |
| Osher et al. 2005 Israel |
Bipolar | 12, no placebo | 1,5 to 2 g | Hamilton Score improved by 50 % |
| Case report and testimonial | Bipolar | 1/no placebo, but look at prior course of illness | 2,2 g EPA 1,8 g DHA Flax seed oil |
Read report |
| Puri et al case report England |
Treatment-refratory | 1/no placebo, but impressive outcome | 4 g E-EPA | Dramatic cure, read report |
| Ayton et al. 2004 England |
Severe anorexia | 1 patient, impressive case report | 1 g E-EPA | Rapid recovery in 3 months, read report |
| Nemets et al. 2006 Israel |
Children´s (6-12 yrs.) m,ajor depression | 28/14 | 400 mg EPA+ 200 mg DHA 4 months |
Significant effect, recommended for treatment |
| Nemets et al. 2004 Israel
|
Major depression | 1 woman 1 man |
2 g E-EPA/d | Dramatic recovery in 1 month, read report |
| Ayton et al. 2004 England |
Severe anorexia | 7 patients, no placebo, impressive improvement | 1–4 g E-EPA | 3 recovered, 4 improved in 3 months, read report |
| Keck et al. 2006 USA |
Bipolar and “rapid cycling” | 120/placebo | 6 g E-EPA | No difference from placebo |
| Amminger et al 2006 Wienna, Austria |
Autism | 13 children 5–17 yrs |
840 mg EPA 700 mg DHA 6 weeks |
Aberrant Behaviour (hyperactivity) decreased, large effect size |
| Silvers et al 2005 New Zealand |
Depression | 45/placebo | 2,8 g DHA+EPA | No difference from placebo |
| Case report |
SOURCE: Bio-Vita