The effects of omega 3 fatty acids on the serum concentrations of pro inflammatory cytokines anddepression status in patients with bipolar disorder: A randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The inflammation accelerates the progression of bipolar disorder. Supplementation of anti-inflammatory supplements in adjuvant with medications may alleviate disorder signs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and depression status in patients with bipolar disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted in Zahedan city in 2021. Patients with bipolar disorder (n = 60) were grouped into two groups: omega-3 fatty acid supplement group (n = 30, 15 men and 15 women) and placebo one using a permuted block stratified randomization. The patients in the omega-3 group received 2 g of omega-3 fatty acids daily for 2 months while patients in the placebo group received 2 g soft gels daily in the same form. Depression score and the serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were assessed before and after the study. RESULTS: Depression score and the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and hs-CRP were decreased after intervention in the omega-3 fatty acid group also compared with the placebo group (P < 0.001). The results also show a positive correlation between the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and hs-CRP with depression scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Prescription of omega-3 fatty acids can decrease inflammatory parameters and help to decrease depression in patients with bipolar disorder. This supplement can be used along with medications for decreasing the inflammatory markers in these patients.