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,Attilio Giacosa,Annalisa Opizzi,Gigliola Montorfano,Mariangela Rondanelli,Milena Faliva,Bruno Berra,Claudio Pelucchi,Giovanni Ricevuti,Paola Antonia Corsetto

doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-82

Abstract

BackgroundDepression 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.MethodsThe 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).ResultsThe 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.Conclusionsn-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.

Highlights

Depression is one of the most frequently missed diagnoses in elderly people, with obvious negative effects on quality of life
An unbalance in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status is observed in various pathological conditions, especially in chronic and/or degenerative diseases associated with antioxidant system deficiency [1]
Recent scientific evidence has disclosed a correlation between the bioavailability of n-3 PUFA and the prevention or treatment of various neurological disorders, such as adult depression, schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children (ADHD) [3], [4], [5], [6] [7]

Summary

Introduction

Depression is one of the most frequently missed diagnoses in elderly people, with obvious negative effects on quality of life. 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. The authors of a retrospective study including 1188 elderly American subjects suggested that low levels of circulating docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be a significant risk factor for the development of Alzheimer dementia. They related inability to maintain a high level of DHA with a reduced capacity to synthesize DHA late in life resulting from a reduction in Δ6 desaturase activity [8]. Depletion of n-3 fatty acid levels in red blood cell membranes of depressed patients has been previously reported [10] [11]

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