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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Oct 10:11:82.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-82.

Comparison between the AA/EPA ratio in depressed and non depressed elderly females: omega-3 fatty acid supplementation correlates with improved symptoms but does not change immunological parameters

Angela Maria Rizzo  1 , Paola Antonia Corsetto, Gigliola Montorfano, Annalisa Opizzi, Milena Faliva, Attilio Giacosa, Giovanni Ricevuti, Claudio Pelucchi, Bruno Berra, Mariangela Rondanelli
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Comparison between the AA/EPA ratio in depressed and non depressed elderly females: omega-3 fatty acid supplementation correlates with improved symptoms but does not change immunological parameters

Angela Maria Rizzo et al. Nutr J. .

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the most frequently missed diagnoses in elderly people, with obvious negative effects on quality of life. Various studies have shown that long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may be useful in its management. Our objective was to evaluate whether a supplement containing n-3 PUFA improves depressive symptoms in depressed elderly patients, and whether the blood fatty acid pattern is correlated with these changes.

Methods: The severity of depressive symptoms according to the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), blood fatty acid composition and erythrocyte phospholipids were analyzed in 46 depressed females aged 66-95y, diagnosed with depression according to DSMIV, within the context of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 22 depressed females were included in the intervention group (2.5 g/day of n-3 PUFA for 8 weeks), and 24 in the placebo group. We also measured immunological parameters (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19 and cytokines (IL-5, IL-15).

Results: The mean GDS score and AA/EPA ratio, in whole blood and RBC membrane phospholipids, were significantly lower after 2 months supplementation with n-3 PUFA. A significant correlation between the amelioration of GDS and the AA/EPA ratio with some immunological parameters, such as CD2, CD19, CD4, CD16 and the ratio CD4/CD8, was also found. Nevertheless, omega-3 supplementation did not significantly improve the studied immunological functions.

Conclusions: n-3 PUFA supplementation ameliorates symptoms in elderly depression. The n-3 PUFA status may be monitored by means of the determination of whole blood AA/EPA ratio.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
GDS (mean±SE) in depressed elderly patients before and after supplementation with Placebo or omega-3 PUFA. *P<0.05 After vs Before.
Figure 2
Figure 2
AA/EPA ratio in whole blood (panel A) and in RBC membrane phospholipids (panel B) in healthy subjects and depressed elderly patients before and after supplementation with Placebo or omega-3 PUFA. **P<0.01 After vs. Before; §§ P<0.01 Depressed vs. Healthy.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlations between the decrease in AA/EPA ratio (Before-After) and the change in GDS (Before-After) in depressed elderly patients treated with Placebo (panel A) and Omega-3 PUFA (panel B).
Figure 4
Figure 4
EPA (panel A) and DHA (panel B) % concentration in whole blood and in erythrocyte membrane (RBC) in healthy subjects and depressed elderly patients before and after supplementation with placebo or omega-3 PUFA. *P<0.05; **P<0.01 After vs. Before; §§ P<0.01 Depressed vs. Healthy before.
Figure 5
Figure 5
EPA (panel A) and DHA (panel B) % concentration in specific phospholipids of erythrocyte membrane (RBC) in depressed elderly patients before and after supplementation with placebo or omega-3 PUFA. *P<0.05; **P<0.01 After vs. Before; PE phosphatidylethanolamine, PI phosphatidylinositol; PS phosphatidylserine; PC phosphatidylcholine; SM sphingomyelin.
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