Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Children and Adolescents With Bipolar Disorder

NCT ID: NCT00252486

Last Updated: 2013-06-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 65 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2001-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2005-06-30

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that flax oil, as an omega-3 fatty acid, will be superior to placebo in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.

Our primary objective was to determine if flax oil is efficacious in the pediatric bipolar population for reducing symptoms of mania and depression. A secondary objective was to examine fatty acid levels as predictors of treatment response and symptom severity. This clinical trial evaluated whether supplementation with flax oil, containing the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (alpha-LNA), safely reduced symptom severity in youth with bipolar disorder.

Detailed Description

Pediatric bipolar disorder is a difficult-to-treat recurrent mental illness characterized by a predominant mood state of irritability, and often mixed, rapid-cycling, and psychotic symptoms. Results of randomized controlled trials of lithium, valproic acid, and antipsychotics for early onset bipolar disorder offer hope of improvement for many, yet also demonstrate need for additional treatment options for those children who do not respond adequately to, or cannot tolerate, a first-line mood stabilizer alone or in combination with an atypical antipsychotic. As popular over-the-counter dietary supplements, omega-3 fatty acids represent an appealing option for treatment in the younger bipolar population as they are likely to be better tolerated and cost less compared with conventional mood stabilizing agents. In addition, they have appeal to parents and adolescents due to their perception as a 'natural' substance and relative lack of systemic side effects. To our knowledge, there are no prospective, randomized, controlled trials of flax oil for the treatment of bipolar disorder or selectively evaluating omega-3 fatty acids in the child and adolescent bipolar population.

Children and adolescents aged 6-17 years with symptomatic Bipolar I or II disorder (n=51), manic, hypomanic, mixed, or depressed, were randomized to either flax oil capsules containing 550 mg alpha-linolenic acid per 1 gram or an olive oil placebo adjunctively or as monotherapy. Doses were titrated to 12 capsules per day as tolerated over 16 weeks. Primary outcomes included changes in the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Child Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), and Clinical Global Impressions- Bipolar (CGI-BP) ratings using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Baseline and end-of-study free fatty acids were measured and examined for change and relevance to effect.

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Flax oil, placebo oil

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Flax oil

Intervention Type: DRUG

Flax oil and olive oil placebo were analyzed for quality and purity; sufficient bioactivity was confirmed for the flax oil independently at the University of Massachusetts mid-way through the study. Each capsule of omega -3 fatty acid concentrate contained 550 mg of α-linolenic acid (α-LNA) from flax seed oil.A stepped but flexible dose-titration schedule was carried out with doses increased by 1-2 grams at each visit as tolerated, to an attempted total dose of 6 capsules twice per day, as requested by the FDA (up to 6.6 grams of daily α-linolenic acid).

Interventions

Flax oil

Flax oil and olive oil placebo were analyzed for quality and purity; sufficient bioactivity was confirmed for the flax oil independently at the University of Massachusetts mid-way through the study. Each capsule of omega -3 fatty acid concentrate contained 550 mg of α-linolenic acid (α-LNA) from flax seed oil.A stepped but flexible dose-titration schedule was carried out with doses increased by 1-2 grams at each visit as tolerated, to an attempted total dose of 6 capsules twice per day, as requested by the FDA (up to 6.6 grams of daily α-linolenic acid).

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Omega-3 Research Institute, Bethesda, MD

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• male and female outpatients aged 6-17
• DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder
• currently symptomatic with a CGI of 3 or greater, Y-MRS of 4 or greater, or CDRS-R of 22 or greater
• have failed stabilization with lithium and valproate combined therapy with therapeutic levels documented or are intolerant to these medications
• ability and willingness to provide assent and informed written consent from at least one parent/ legal guardian

Exclusion Criteria

• mental retardation (IQ less than 70)
• comorbid autism, pervasive developmental disorder, history of substance abuse or positive toxicology screen, or acute post-traumatic stress disorder
• presence of a serious chronic medical illness
• inability to swallow capsules
• pregnant or sexually active without reliable contraception

• Minimum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 17 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Stanley Medical Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Rochester

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Barbara L Gracious, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Rochester

Locations

University of Rochester

Rochester, New York, United States

Countries

United States

References

Scheffer RE, Kowatch RA, Carmody T, Rush AJ. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of mixed amphetamine salts for symptoms of comorbid ADHD in pediatric bipolar disorder after mood stabilization with divalproex sodium. Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Jan;162(1):58-64. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.1.58.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 15625202 (View on PubMed)

McClellan J, Kowatch R, Findling RL; Work Group on Quality Issues. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;46(1):107-125. doi: 10.1097/01.chi.0000242240.69678.c4.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 17195735 (View on PubMed)

Nandagopal JJ, DelBello MP, Kowatch R. Pharmacologic treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2009 Apr;18(2):455-69, x. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2008.11.004.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 19264273 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

00-266

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id