For the kids.....

[HysteryDiagnosis]

https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/content/en/int/article.jsp?relativePath=/content/en/newswire/current/newswire_2006_07_27_3.htm&indx=3&description=&AdLocation=ticker&title=Healthnotes+Newswire%3A+Omega-3+Fatty+Acids+Relieve+Childhood+Depression

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Relieve Childhood Depression

By Alan R. Gaby, MD

Healthnotes Newswire (July 27, 2006)—Supplementing with the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil appears to be a safe and effective treatment for childhood depression, according to a new study.


Depression is an increasingly common problem that affects an estimated 2 to 4% of children in the United States. Associated with an increased risk of substance abuse and suicide, childhood depression is usually treated with a class of drugs known as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, more than 20% of children experience side effects such as agitation and sleep disturbances from these drugs, and their use has been associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.

[trotsky]

1. Is there something missing here?

"according to a new study"
"In the new study"
"used in this study"

Where's the info on the study? Who did it, when did they do it, who financed it, etc.?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. There may be something missing in this particular study....

let me expand on the results they claim they have seen. Tell you what, goto PubMed and search fish oil depression and read for a few hours... you might also want to enter schizophrenia with that fish oil to see what turns up.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16741212&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

Full text article here, subscription required ---> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/lofref.fcgi?itool=AbstractPlus-def&PrId=3051&uid=16741212&db=pubmed&url=http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=16741212

1: Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;163(6):1098-100.Click here to read Links
Omega-3 treatment of childhood depression: a controlled, double-blind pilot study.

* Nemets H,
* Nemets B,
* Apter A,
* Bracha Z,
* Belmaker RH.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder in children may be more common than previously thought, and its therapeutics are unclear. Because of success in a previous study on omega-3 fatty acids in adult major depressive disorder, the authors planned a pilot study of omega-3 fatty acids in childhood major depression. METHOD: Children who entered the study were between the ages of 6 and 12. Ratings were performed at baseline and at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks using Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Children were randomized to omega-3 fatty acids or placebo as pharmacologic monotherapy. Twenty-eight patients were randomized, and 20 completed at least 1 month's ratings. RESULTS: Analysis of variance showed highly significant effects of omega-3 on symptoms using the CDRS, CDI, and CGI. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 fatty acids may have therapeutic benefits in childhood depression.

PMID: 16741212



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16741195&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum
1: Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;163(6):969-78.Click here to read Links
Omega-3 fatty acids and mood disorders.

* Parker G,
* Gibson NA,
* Brotchie H,
* Heruc G,
* Rees AM,
* Hadzi-Pavlovic D.

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, and Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia. [e-mail]

OBJECTIVE: This article is an overview of epidemiological and treatment studies suggesting that deficits in dietary-based omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may make an etiological contribution to mood disorders and that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may provide a therapeutic strategy. METHOD: Relevant published studies are detailed and considered. RESULTS: Several epidemiological studies suggest covariation between seafood consumption and rates of mood disorders. Biological marker studies indicate deficits in omega-3 fatty acids in people with depressive disorders, while several treatment studies indicate therapeutic benefits from omega-3 supplementation. A similar contribution of omega-3 fatty acids to coronary artery disease may explain the well-described links between coronary artery disease and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in omega-3 fatty acids have been identified as a contributing factor to mood disorders and offer a potential rational treatment approach. This review identifies a number of hypotheses and studies for consideration. In particular, the authors argue for studies clarifying the efficacy of omega-3 supplementation for unipolar and bipolar depressive disorders, both as individual and augmentation treatment strategies, and for studies pursuing which omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is likely to provide the greatest benefit.

PMID: 16741195

[Trillo]

3. Probably also for your doggy: In canine manufactured foods,

these days they're often touting the Omega-3/Omega-6 balance. That wan't true in bygone days.

[trotsky]

4. Oh yeah, the importance of omega-3 fats can't be denied.

I just thought it odd in that article it spoke so much about a particular study, but didn't reference it at all.

[Trillo]

5. Cut and Paste from the OP's linked article:

(Am J Psychiatry 2006;163:1098–100)

That correlates to PubMed search result, bolding added:

Nemets H, Nemets B, Apter A, Bracha Z, Belmaker RH. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Omega-3 treatment of childhood depression: a controlled, double-blind pilot study.
Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;163(6):1098-100.
PMID: 16741212

I think that the OP already posted the abstract from that study.