Effects of fish oil supplementation on bone turnover markers in depression: a pilot study.

Background And Objective: There is a close correlation between bone loss, depression, and antidepressants. N-3 PUFA supplementation has been considered an effective add-on therapeutic approach in ameliorating bone loss and relieving depression. However, the adjunctive effect of n-3 PUFA on bone metabolism in participants with depression is still unknown. This is a pilot study to investigate the dynamics of bone metabolism in depression and evaluate the efficacy of fish oil on bone loss in depression.

Methods: In this study, we focused on the change of bone turnover markers in depression, the effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation on bone turnover markers, and its association with clinical characteristics. A case-control study and a secondary analysis of a previously published randomized clinical trial (NCT03295708) that evaluates the efficacy of n-3 PUFA supplementation in venlafaxine-treated depressed participants have been included.

Results: The levels of PINP (z = -2.233, = 0.026) in depressed participants were significantly increased compared with healthy controls at baseline. The secondary analysis has shown significant differences exited on CTX ( = 4.848, = 0.028) and OSTEOC ( = 6.178, = 0.013) between n-3 PUFA and placebo group. The levels of CTX and OSTEOC ( < 0.05) significantly decreased in the placebo group, which indicates that venlafaxine treatment reduces both bone formation and resorption markers. While the levels of OSTEOC and PINP were increased in the n-3 PUFA group ( < 0.05). Moreover, the change in bone turnover markers showed consistency with clinical symptomatic outcomes.

Conclusion: Participants with first-diagnosed, drug-naïve depression show active bone formation. Venlafaxine decreases bone remodeling, while n-3 PUFA increases bone formation, bringing light to preventing and treating bone loss in depression.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03295708.