NCT01620502

N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Prevention and Treatment for IFN-induced Depression

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 230 (actual)
• Sponsor: National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The first part is a double-blind placebo-controlled trial to identify the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in prevention of IFN-induced depression. The second part is a double-blind trial to identify the antidepressant effects of omega-3 PUFAs in patients with IFN-induced depression.

Detailed description

We have done a preliminary analysis in 63 HCV patients receiving IFN-α therapy enrolled in our current NSC project (NSC95-2320-B-039-037-MY3) and found that patients who later developed IFN-α-induced depression (case group, 21/63) had lower PUFA levels before starting IFN-α therapy than control group (p=0.024). In addition, there was a trend for a negative correlation (r=-0.224; p=0.078) between baseline DHA levels and the highest scores of BDI during IFN therapy in the whole group. These findings indicate that n-3 PUFAs might play a protective factor. This 3-year proposal is divided into 2 clinical studies. In study 1, we aim to test the prophylactic effect of n-3 PUFAs (EPA: 3.5 g/d and DHA: 1.75 g/d versus placebo: high oleic oil) for IFN-α-induced sickness behaviour and depressive symptoms, in a two-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 152 patients with HCV starting IFN-α therapy. In study 2, we will test the antidepressant effect of n-3 PUFAs (EPA: 3.5 g/d and DHA: 1.75 g/d versus placebo: high oleic oil) on IFN-α-induced depression during IFN-α therapy, in an eight-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 80 HCV patients who have already developed depression.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Episode

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Omega-3 fatty acids	A daily treatment of 5 identical capsules of EPA (3.5 g/d), DHA (1.75 g/d) or placebo (high oleic oil), in single or divided administration for 2 (Study 1) or 8 weeks (Study 2)

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-07-01
• Primary completion: 2012-06-01
• Completion: 2012-09-01
• First posted: 2012-06-15
• Last updated: 2013-10-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan