Protective role of cod liver oil on hippocampal oxidative damage and neuronal count in Wistar rat model of comorbid depression

BACKGROUND: Proper nutrition and balanced diet have a profound influence on mental well-being. Nutritional psychiatry plays an important role in influencing a healthy mind and body. The animal model of chronic unpredictable stress has been considered the effective model to explore research on anxiety and depression. AIM: The present study aimed to explore the protective role of cod liver oil on various biochemical and neuronal analyses in the hippocampus tissue of the Wistar rat model of comorbid depression. METHODS: Healthy adult albino rats of Wistar strain weighing (120–160 g) were divided into control groups and experimental groups. These groups were further categorized into various subgroups based on stress exposure, cod liver oil, and antidepressant treatment. Six animals were taken in each group. The duration of stress exposure was for 15 days. After the experimentation procedure, the animals were anesthetized and hippocampus was dissected for the estimations of various biochemical and neurological parameters. RESULTS: The combination of cod liver oil with the antidepressant significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the lipid peroxidation level. Total antioxidant (TAO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the hippocampus. Treatment of cod liver oil during the stress exposure increased (p < 0.001) the neuronal count. CONCLUSION: Cod liver oil proved to be an effective antidepressant agent by increasing the antioxidants and promoting neurogenesis in the hippocampus.