Associations between increases in plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids following supplementation and decreases in anger and anxiety in substance abusers - PubMed (original) (raw)

Randomized Controlled Trial

. 2008 Feb 15;32(2):568-75.

doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.10.020. Epub 2007 Nov 1.

Affiliations

Randomized Controlled Trial

Associations between increases in plasma n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids following supplementation and decreases in anger and anxiety in substance abusers

Laure Buydens-Branchey et al. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2008.

Abstract

Objective: Mounting evidence indicates that low levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a role in the pathophysiology of a large number of psychiatric disorders. In light of the suboptimal n-3 PUFAs intake due to poor dietary habits among substance abusers and the strong associations between aggression, anxiety and substance use disorders we examined if insurance of adequate intakes of n-3 PUFAs with supplementation would decrease their anger and anxiety scores.

Method: Substance abusers (n=22) were assigned to either 3 g of n-3 PUFAs, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or soybean oil in identically looking capsules. The trial was double-blind, randomized and lasted 3 months. Anger and anxiety scales were administered at baseline and once a month thereafter. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of the trial.

Results: Patients' dietary intakes of n-3 PUFAs fell below recommended levels. Assignment to n-3 PUFA treatment was accompanied by significant decreases in anger and anxiety scores compared to placebo assignment. These changes were associated with increases in plasma levels of both EPA and DHA but an increase in EPA was more robustly correlated with low end-of-trial anxiety scores and an increase in DHA was more robustly correlated with low end-of-trial anger scores.

Conclusion: These pilot data indicate that ensuring adequate n-3 PUFA intake via supplementation benefits substance abusers by reducing their anger and anxiety levels. The strong correlations between an increase in plasma EPA and lower anxiety scores and between an increase in plasma DHA and lower anger scores suggests a need for the further exploration of the differential responses to these two n-3 PUFAs in different psychiatric conditions.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Anger scores of substance abusers during a 3-month administration of n-3 PUFAs or placebo. Values are means±SEM. A comparison of the scores of the two patient groups by a repeated measures ANCOVA, with baseline values as covariates, revealed a significant difference (p=.040). The effect size was large (f=.506).

Figure 2

Figure 2

Anxiety scores of substance abusers during a 3-month administration of n-3 PUFAs or placebo. Values are means±SEM. A comparison of the scores of the two patient groups by a repeated measures ANCOVA, with baseline values as covariates, revealed a significant difference (p=.023). The effect size was large (f=.567).

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Alessandri JM, Guesnet P, Vancassel S, Astorg P, Denis I, Langelier B, et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the central nervous system: evolution of concepts and nutritional implications throughout life. Reprod Nutr Dev. 2004;44:509–38. - PubMed
    1. Buydens-Branchey L, Branchey M. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease anxiety feelings in a population of substance abusers. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006;26:661–5. - PubMed
    1. Buydens-Branchey L, Branchey M. Long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids treatment decreases feelings of anger in substance abusers. Psychiatry Res. in press. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2007.01.004. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cohen J. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. Lawrence Earlbaum; Hillsdale, NJ: 1988.
    1. First MB, Spitzer RL, Gibbon M, Williams JBW. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) American Psychiatric Press; Washington, DC: 1997.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources