Fish-Based Depression Drug Seen on Market Soon

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Fish-Based Depression Drug Seen on Market

Soon

Tue May 7,10:46 AM ET

By 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,

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.