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Omega-3’s Fight Postpartum depression |
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Omega-3’s Fight Postpartum depression
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Darrell Miller | 01/23/06 |
Date:
January 23, 2006 02:42 PM
Author: Darrell Miller
(dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: Omega-3’s Fight Postpartum depression
Omega-3’s Fight Postpartum depression
Tucson, AZ—Marine-sourced omega-3 essential fatty acids (N-3 EFAs) combat postpartum depression (PPD), according to a study published online in acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia (www.blackwell-synergy.com).
In the eight-week trial, test subjects were randomized to receive 0.5 g/d (n-6), 1.4 g/d (N-3) or 2.8 g/d (n-7) n-3 EFAs (as EPAX omega-3 oil provided by Epax AS, Previously a division of Pronova Biocare AS [www.provona.com]). All groups had reductions in mean scores on Edinburgh Postnatal and Hamilton Rating depression scales (51.5 percent and 48.8 percent, respectively); changes from baseline were significant within each group and when combining groups. The researchers concluded results of the study support further study of n-3 fatty acids as a treatment for PPD.
“Omega-3 fatty acids were assessed in a double-blind dose-ranging trial,” said Marlene Freeman, M.D., director of the Women’s Mental Health Program and assistant professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. “A combination of omega-3 EPA and DHA fatty acids provided by EPAX AS was utilized. Among all three doses, patients with postpartum depression improved substantially during the trial. Scores on depression measures decreased by approximately 50 percent and differences were statistically significant.”
