Research · Meta-analysis
EPA but not DHA appears to be responsible for the efficacy of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in depression
What it found
Supplements that were over 50% EPA significantly reduced depression symptoms, while pure-DHA supplements did not — pointing to EPA as the active component.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Year
- 2009
- Population
- patients with depression or depressive symptoms (28 studies)
- Intervention
- omega-3 with varying EPA:DHA ratios vs placebo
- Outcome
- change in standardized depression scores
- Journal
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Citation last checked 2026-06-21.