OT Kinda: Fish-Based Depression Drug Seen on Market Soon
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Tue May 7,10:46 AM ET
By Anna Peltola
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Eating fatty fish is already thought to help cure
depression, but a simpler method to treat the illness may soon be
available as pharmaceutical companies plan drugs based on fish acids.
An antidepressant drug based on eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acid found in
fish may be on markets in two years, David Horrobin, researcher at the
private-owned British Laxdale Ltd, told journalists at a psychiatrists'
conference.
The majority of the human brain consists of fat, but about a fifth of
that fat cannot be formed by the body and people have to get it from
their diet, Horrobin said.
Two studies published so far have shown that EPA in a pure form helped
reduce depression in patients who had not earlier responded to
antidepressants or who had initially responded but then seen a setback.
"It is surprising how strong the effect is. It is a very big effect
compared with standard antidepressants," Horrobin said, adding two new
studies, soon to be published, showed similar results.
Research has shown that fish and seafood consumption correlates with
depression, so populations and individuals who consume much fatty fish
are less prone to depression.
This might explain why depression is rare in Far Eastern countries, such
as Japan, where fish is a popular food, and more commonplace in North
European states.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) (FDA) had given
researchers a lot of guidance and the authority was likely to speed up
the drug's entry into the markets, Horrobin said.
"If the dossier is complete, they (the FDA) could give it fast-track
approval," he said.
He said an emerging research theme was the link between depression and
heart problems. EPA and another fat acid, docosahexaenoic (DHA), can
also be used to treat and prevent cardiovascular problems.
A drug based on the pure form of fish acids would make it possible to
treat patients with an optimal dose, but a couple of weekly helpings of
fatty fish -- such as herring or sardines -- may also help fight
depression, Horrobin said.
EPA and DHA acids can also be found in meat and eggs but in small
amounts. All green vegetables, especially flax seeds, have the
ingredient, but fish is by far the best source.
"It really looks like grandma was right, fish is good for your brain,"
Horrobin said.