This study is designed to examine the effects of fish oil on immune function and mood.
The beneficial effects of fish oil (or eating fish more frequently) include reductions in triglycerides, blood pressure, and heart rate, as well as increases in HDL cholesterol, the "good" type of cholesterol. In addition, certain aspects of immune function also appear to show favorable responses to fish oil supplementation, and some studies suggest that fish oil helps to improve mood and decrease depression. This study is designed to examine how supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (key fish oil components) affects aspects of your immune response, and your mood; because some research suggests that people who eat more fish may do better during stressful times, the study will also examine how fish oil affects your immune response to stress, certain stress hormone responses, and your psychological response to stress. For detailed information about the study, please visit our website at http://www.stressandhealth.org
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
138
1.25 g or 2.496 g daily for 4 months
matching placebo capsule daily for 4 months
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Serum ln(TNF-a)
log-transformed serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
Time frame: Baseline & 4 months
Serum ln(IL-6)
log-transformed serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Time frame: Baseline & 4 months
ln(CES-D)
log-transformed Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score The CES-D is a self-report scale designed to measure current symptoms of depression rated on a four-point likert scale. Scores range from 0-60, with higher scores indicating a higher frequency of depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline & 4 months
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