Mixed results were found for zinc , folic acid , vitamin C , and tryptophan , with nonsignificant results for inositol .
No major adverse effects were noted in the studies ( aside from minor digestive disturbance ) .
A meta- analysis of adjunctive omega-3 versus placebo revealed a significant and moderate to strong effect in favor of omega-3 .
Conversely , a meta- analysis of folic acid revealed a nonsignificant difference from placebo .
Current evidence supports adjunctive use of SAMe , methylfolate , omega-3 , and vitamin D with antidepressants to reduce depressive symptoms
OBJECTIVE There is burgeoning interest in augmentation strategies for improving inadequate response to antidepressants .
The adjunctive use of st and ardized pharmaceutical- grade nutrients , known as nutraceuticals , has the potential to modulate several neurochemical pathways implicated in depression .
While many studies have been conducted in this area , to date no specialized systematic review ( or meta- analysis ) has been conducted .
Zinc supplementation augments efficacy of imipramine in treatment resistant patients: a double blind, placebo-controlled study.
BACKGROUND One of the main problems in the therapy of depression is the limited efficacy of antidepressants and the limited utility of augmentation strategies . Zinc , a non competitive NMDA receptor antagonist exhibits pre clinical antidepressant efficacy . Moreover , a preliminary clinical report suggests augmentation of antidepressant therapy by zinc in depression . METHODS A placebo-controlled , double blind study of zinc supplementation in imipramine therapy was conducted in sixty , 18 - 55-year old , unipolar depressed patients fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for major depression without psychotic symptoms . After a one week washout period , patients were r and omized into two groups treated with imipramine ( approximately 140 mg/day ) and receiving once daily either placebo ( n=30 ) or zinc supplementation ( n=30 , 25 mgZn/day ) for 12 weeks . RESULTS No significant differences in CGI , BDI , HADRS and MADRS scores were demonstrated between zinc-supplemented and placebo-supplemented antidepressant treatment non-resistant patients . However , zinc supplementation significantly reduced depression scores and facilitated the treatment outcome in antidepressant treatment resistant patients . CONCLUSION Zinc supplementation augments the efficacy and speed of onset of therapeutic response to imipramine treatment , particularly in patients previously nonresponsive to antidepressant pharmacotherapies . These data suggest the participation of disturbed zinc/glutamatergic transmission in the pathophysiology of drug resistance
Mixed results were found for zinc , folic acid , vitamin C , and tryptophan , with nonsignificant results for inositol .
No major adverse effects were noted in the studies ( aside from minor digestive disturbance ) .
A meta- analysis of adjunctive omega-3 versus placebo revealed a significant and moderate to strong effect in favor of omega-3 .
Conversely , a meta- analysis of folic acid revealed a nonsignificant difference from placebo .
Current evidence supports adjunctive use of SAMe , methylfolate , omega-3 , and vitamin D with antidepressants to reduce depressive symptoms
OBJECTIVE There is burgeoning interest in augmentation strategies for improving inadequate response to antidepressants .
The adjunctive use of st and ardized pharmaceutical- grade nutrients , known as nutraceuticals , has the potential to modulate several neurochemical pathways implicated in depression .
While many studies have been conducted in this area , to date no specialized systematic review ( or meta- analysis ) has been conducted .