Evidence Hub

Role of Omega-3 Fish Oil Fatty Acids on Depression Among HIV-seropositive Pregnant Pregnant Women in Nairobi: A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial

ClinicalTrials.gov · COMPLETED, 2014

216 participants

Abstract

Fish oil omega-3 supplements provide essential nutrients for brain health and functioning. These nutrients have been proven to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms. They have also been found to be effective and well tolerated in reducing the bad fat accumulation among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)and are using highly active antiretroviral treatment. The role of this nutritional supplement in combating depression among pregnant women who are living with HIV infection has however not been established. Yet, currently, more than 2 million pregnant women are estimated to be living with HIV infection globally. In Kenya, about 9.0% of pregnant women are HIV-seropositive.

In this study, it is hypothesized that there is no difference in the levels of depressive symptoms among HIV infected pregnant women who are taking omega-3 fish oil supplements and those taking a placebo.

The study will therefore seek to ascertain that taking omega-3 fish oil nutritional supplement has a significant positive effect on depressive symptoms among HIV infected pregnant women, compared to a placebo.

Conditions: Depressive Symptoms.

Primary outcome: Change in BDI-II Depressive Symptom Scores.

Enrollment: 216 participants.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 216 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free