Detecting the modest signals of omega‐3 fatty acids' antidepressant effects by homogenizing depressed patient groups

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is predicted to become the top leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020, with a high lifetime prevalence rate of up to one-tenth or possibly even one-fifth [1]. The current psychopharmacologic interventions have had fairly limited success and the development of novel antidepressant medications has had mixed results with several unfortunate failures due to limited efficacy and adverse side effects. With such challenges of prevailing pharmacotherapies towards MDD, a new therapeutic strategy in treatment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 or n-3 PUFAs) supplementation has shown promising outcomes in lowering the risk of depression.