Melbourne, Australia—Certain nutritional supplements boost the effectiveness of antidepressants for patients with clinical depression, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Among the most useful compounds were omega-3 fish oils, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), methylfolate, the bioactive form of folate, and vitamin D, according to a review conducted by researchers from the University of Melbourne and Harvard University. The study team examined 40 clinical trials worldwide and performed a systematic review of the evidence for using nutraceuticals to treat clinical depression concurrent with antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclics. The strongest effect was identified for omega-3 fish oils, study authors report, adding that results were mixed for zinc, vitamin C, and tryptophan. Neither folic acid nor inositol showed much effect, according to the research.
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