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Are omega-3 fatty acids antidepressants or just mood-improving agents? The effect depends upon diagnosis, supplement preparation, and severity of depression

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Correspondence to K-P Su.

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Competing interests

Dr David Mischoulon has received research support for other clinical trials from Amarin (Laxdale), Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cederroth, Lichtwer Pharma GmbH, Nordic Naturals, Ganeden, Swiss Medica, and Fisher-Wallace; he has received consulting and writing honoraria from Pamlab; he has received speaking honoraria from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Nordic Naturals, Pfizer, Pamlab, and Virbac; he has received royalty income from Back Bay Scientific for PMS Escape, and from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins for the book, ‘Natural Medications for Psychiatric Disorders: Considering the Alternatives’ (Editors: David Mischoulon and Jerrold F Rosenbaum). Dr Marlene P Freeman has received research support for clinical trials from Lilly, Forrest and Glaxo SmithKline; she has received consulting honoraria for the Advisory Board from Bristol Myers Squibb; she consulted to PamLab on behalf of Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr Yutaka Matsuoka has received research support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan, Intramural Research Grant for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders of NCNP and lecture fees from Suntory Wellness Ltd, Eli Lilly Japan and Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Ltd. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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PY Lin and KP Su wrote the first draft of the letter. All authors contributed to and approved the final version of the letter.

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Lin, PY., Mischoulon, D., Freeman, M. et al. Are omega-3 fatty acids antidepressants or just mood-improving agents? The effect depends upon diagnosis, supplement preparation, and severity of depression. Mol Psychiatry 17, 1161–1163 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2012.111

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