Citation

Matsumura K, Noguchi H, Nishi D, Hamazaki K, Hamazaki T, Matsuoka YJ. J. Affect. Disord. 2016; 224: 27-31.

Affiliation

CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, National Disaster Medical Center, 3256 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-0014, Japan; (h)Division of Health Care Research, Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. Electronic address: yumatsuo@ncc.go.jp.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2016.05.054

PMID

27287561

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psychophysiological symptoms (e.g., pounding heart) are known to be a prominent feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have a beneficial potential pharmacological effect of preventing these psychophysiological symptoms, no clinical data is yet available. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Japanese accident survivors.

METHODS: A total of 83 participants received either omega-3 PUFAs (1470mg docosahexaenoic acid and 147mg eicosapentaenoic acid per day) or placebo within 10 days of the accidental injury. After 12-week supplementation, participants performed script-driven imagery of their traumatic event during monitoring of their heart rate and skin conductance.

RESULTS: Analysis revealed that heart rate during both rest and script-driven imagery was significantly lower in the omega-3 group than the placebo group, whereas baseline heart rate was comparable between the two groups. LIMITATIONS: The present trial was conducted at a single-center in Japan and psychophysiological symptoms of PTSD in most participants were not serious.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that post-trauma supplementation of omega-3 PUFAs might be effective for the secondary prevention of psychophysiological symptoms of PTSD.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en