Eficacia de los ácidos grasos omega-3 como tratamiento suplementario en la esquizofrenia

The phospholipid membrane theory about the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia supports the idea that a deficiency in the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the lipids in the neuronal membrane is a significant factor in the pathophysiology of this disorder. Various clinical trials have evaluated the therapeutic role of omega-3 PUFA supplements in schizophrenia. A systematic review of the published literature was performed, identifying 7 double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy of these supplements. The study results are heterogeneous. The data suggest that there is a moderate effect with supplements containing eicosapentaenoic acid in a dose of 2 g/day in patients with established schizophrenia. Two studies focused on incipient psychosis, with encouraging results in the short term. However, the studies that recruited a larger number of patients did not observe any differences compared to the placebo.