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 .
B vitamins to enhance treatment response to antidepressants in middle-aged and older adults: results from the B-VITAGE randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND Depression is common and the efficacy of antidepressants is suboptimal . High plasma homocysteine has been consistently associated with depression , and treatment with certain B vitamins demonstrably reduces its concentration . AIMS To determine whether vitamins B6 , B12 and folic acid enhance response to antidepressant treatment  over 52 weeks . METHOD R and omised , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of citalopram ( 20 - 40 g ) together with 0.5 mg of vitamin B12 , 2 mg of folic acid and 25 mg of vitamin B6 for 52 weeks ( Australian and New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry : 12609000256279 ) . Participants were community-dwelling adults aged 50 years or over with DSM-IV-TR major depression . We measured severity of symptoms with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) . The primary outcome was remission of the depressive episode after 12 , 26 and 52 weeks . Secondary outcomes included reduction of MADRS scores over time and relapse of major depression after recovery by week 12 . Results In total , 153 people were r and omised ( 76 placebo , 77 vitamins ) .  Remission of symptoms was achieved by 78.1 and 79.4 % of participants treated with placebo and vitamins by week 12 ( P = 0.840 ) , by 76.5 and 85.3 % at week 26 and 75.8 and 85.5 % at week 52 ( effect of intervention over 52 weeks : odds ratio ( OR ) = 2.49 , 95 % CI 1.12 - 5.51 ) . Group differences in MADRS scores over time were not significant ( P = 0.739 ) . The risk of subsequent relapse among those who had achieved remission of symptoms at week 12 was lower in the vitamins than placebo group ( OR = 0.33 , 95 % CI 0.12 - 0.94 ) . CONCLUSIONS B vitamins did not increase the 12-week efficacy of antidepressant treatment , but enhanced and sustained antidepressant response over 1 year . Replication of these findings would m and ate that treatment guidelines adopt the adjunctive use of B vitamins as a safe and inexpensive strategy to manage major depression in middle-aged and older adults
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 .