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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Jun;38(3):e70076.
doi: 10.1111/jhn.70076.

Supplementation of Omega-3 Increases Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Decreases Depression Status in Patients With Bipolar Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Dina Gholipour  1 , Mansour Shahraki  1 , Mansour Shakiba  2 , Ali Shamsi-Goushki  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Supplementation of Omega-3 Increases Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Decreases Depression Status in Patients With Bipolar Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Dina Gholipour et al. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Background: There is a direct relationship between omega-3 and major depression. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and depression status in patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 60 men with BD. The patients were grouped into two groups and received 2 g/day of omega-3 supplements or a placebo daily for 2 months. The serum concentrations of BDNF and depression scores were investigated before and after the intervention. Afterward, the data were analyzed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests.

Results: The supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids significantly increased the serum concentration of BDNF compared to pre-intervention (0.449 ± 0.110 ng/mL vs. 0.756 ± 0.160 ng/mL) and also decreased the scores on the Hamilton test (40.13 ± 9.51 vs. 22.40 ± 7.49) (p < 0.05). The results also showed that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids significantly increased the serum concentration of BDNF (0.756 ± 0.160 ng/mL vs. 0.504 ± 0.154 ng/mL) and decreased the scores on the Hamilton test compared to the placebo group (22.40 ± 7.49 vs. 29.35 ± 6.08) (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: In conclusion, daily supplementation with 2 g of omega-3 fatty acids for 2 months decreased depression scores and increased serum concentrations of BDNF in BD patients compared to the placebo group.

Keywords: bipolar disorder; brain‐derived neurotrophic factor; depression; omega‐3.

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