Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32150824›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2020

EPA is More Effective than DHA to Improve Depression-Like Behavior, Glia Cell Dysfunction and Hippcampal Apoptosis Signaling in a Chronic Stress-Induced Rat Model of Depression.

Zhilan Peng, Cai Zhang, Ling Yan, Yongping Zhang, Zhiyou Yang, Jiajia Wang, Cai Song

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 65 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
65citing papers in PubMed
5.2field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

65 citing papers in PubMed, 145 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Antidepressant and Cognitive-Enhancing Effects ofPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
  6. Association of dietary long-chainThe British journal of nutrition · 2026
    Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. [Role of dysregulation brain lipid metabolism in depression].Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · 2025
    Review
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Gut microbiota, nutrients, and depression.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025
    Review
  20. Review

5 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Zhilan PengResearch Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4748-8675
Cai ZhangResearch Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4349-5918
Ling YanResearch Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
Yongping ZhangResearch Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.ORCID 0000-0002-8667-860X
Zhiyou YangResearch Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.ORCID 0000-0001-6551-684X
Jiajia WangResearch Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
Cai SongResearch Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
Guangdong Ocean University · CN

Funding

Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China 2016A020215153Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China 2016B020235001National Natural Science Foundation of China NO.81471223Project of Enhancing School with Innovation of Guangdong Ocean University GDOU2013050110
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Clinical evidence indicated that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was more effective than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in depression treatment. However, possible mechanisms remain unclear. Here, a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced model of depression was used to compare EPA and DHA anti-depressant effects. After EPA or DHA feeding, depression-like behavior, brain n-3/n-6 PUFAs profile, serum corticosterone and cholesterol concentration, hippocampal neurotransmitters, microglial and astrocyte related function, as well as neuronal apoptosis and survival signaling pathways were studied. EPA was more effective than DHA to ameliorate CUMS-induced body weight loss, and depression-like behaviors, such as increasing sucrose preference, shortening immobility time and increasing locomotor activity. CUMS-induced corticosterone elevation was reversed by bother fatty acids, while increased cholesterol was only reduced by EPA supplement. Lower hippocampal noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations in CUMS rats were also reversed by both EPA and DHA supplement. However, even though CUMS-induced microglial activation and associated increased IL-1β were inhibited by both EPA and DHA supplement, increased IL-6 and TNF-α levels were only reduced by EPA. Compared to DHA, EPA could improve CUMS-induced suppressive astrocyte biomarkers and associated BDNF-TrkB signaling. Moreover, EPA was more effective than DHA to attenuate CUMS-induced higher hippocampal NGF, GDNF, NF-κB, p38, p75, and bax expressions, but reversed bcl-2 reduction. This study for the first time revealed the mechanisms by which EPA was more powerful than DHA in anti-inflammation, normalizing astrocyte and neurotrophin function and regulating NF-κB, p38 and apoptosis signaling. These findings reveal the different mechanisms of EPA and DHA in clinical depression treatment.

Indexed as

ApoptosisAnimalsBehavior, AnimalDepressive DisorderDocosahexaenoic AcidsEicosapentaenoic AcidFemaleHippocampusNeurogliaRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyStress, PsychologicalDocosahexaenoic AcidsEicosapentaenoic Acideicosapentaenoic acid ethyl esterastrocytesBDNFdepressionDHAEPAmicroglianeuroinflammationneurotrophins

Identifiers

PMID32150824
PMCPMC7084382
OpenAlexW3010266650

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.