Biomed Radio - Washington University School Of Medicine In St. Louis

Washington University researchers studying the interplay between depression and heart disease are studying whether dietary supplements called omega-3 fatty acids can be of benefit to people suffering from both ailments. Levels of omega-3 tend to be lower in the blood cells of heart patients and depressed patients. So the researchers attempted to improve symptoms of both depression and heart disease by treating the patients with the supplement. Their initial study found that depression did not improve with omega-3, but the researchers now report that the fatty acids did help some patients. They found that when a person had high blood levels of omega-3, that individual was more likely to respond to additional supplements of omega-3. The researchers now are conducting a study with higher levels of the supplements to see whether that might improve depression in heart patients. RESEARCH STUDIES HAVE TURNED UP CONFLICTING RESULTS ABOUT WHETHER THE FATTY ACIDS FOUND IN FISH, LIKE SALMON, CAN HELP PEOPLE WITH HEART