A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reports that supplementation with fish oil is efficacious in the amelioration of depressive symptoms and quality of life. The study suggests that use of omega-3 fatty acids for major depressive disorder and hot flashes in women during the menopausal transition is worth pursuing further.
In the study, patients received three open-label omega-3 fatty acid capsules daily (two grams total of EPA and DHA). Their Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score fell from 24.2 at baseline to 10.7. In all, 70% of women showed a MADRS score reduction of at least 50%. In total, 45% were deemed to be in remission with a final MADRS score of 7 or less.
75% of the women had experienced hot flashes at baseline. Their 24-hour hot flash scores fell from a mean of 9.0 to 2.5 at the end of treatment. Women who showed an improvement in depression were more likely to experience hot flash reduction.
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