Nutraceuticals as Adjunctive Treatments for Depression?

Omega-3 fatty acids might merit routine adjunctive use for major depression, but data on other nutraceuticals are either less impressive or insufficient.

Investigators performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the usefulness of nutraceuticals (pharmaceutical-grade nutrients) added to conventional antidepressants for treating depressive disorders.

Of 571 screened studies, 40 controlled clinical trials met inclusion criteria. Main categories were one-carbon–cycle agents (folic acid and related substances, S-adenosylmethionine [SAMe], and vitamins B6 and B12), various forms of tryptophan, omega-3 fatty acids, and others.

Despite considerable heterogeneity in 8 studies, positive results with moderate effect sizes were replicated for adjunctive omega-3 fatty acids, but apparently only for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or ethyl-EPA preparations (common EPA dose, 1–2 mg/day) and not …

Reviewing Author

Joel Yager, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInternational Journal of Eating Disorders; UpToDate; FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry; American Journal of Psychotherapy

Joel Yager, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsInternational Journal of Eating Disorders; UpToDate; FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry; American Journal of Psychotherapy

Nutraceuticals as Adjunctive Treatments for Depression?

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Reviewing Author