Academic Stress and Proinflammatory Cytokines: Omega-3 Intervention

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Stress-related Changes in Inflammation

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Oral omega-3 fish oil placebo; Dietary Supplement: omega-3 supplementation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: NIH

Identifiers

NCT00519779

AT003912

R21AT003912-01A1

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is designed to examine the effects of fish oil on immune function and mood in medical students.

Full description

This study will examine how supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (key fish oil components) affects immune and mood responses to examination stress. This study will examine these outcomes in medical students during academic examination periods as well as less stressful non-exam periods. Participants will take fish oil supplements or placebo pills for approximately 3 months during which time relevant mood, endocrine, and immune measures will be assessed.

For detailed information about the study, please visit our website at http://www.stressandhealth.org

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• OSU preclinical medical or dental student, or graduate nursing student
• male or female

Exclusion criteria

• taking certain medications with immune or endocrine effects
• chronic health conditions
• smoking
• excessive use of alcohol or caffeine
• significant digestive problems
• routine use of fish oil or flaxseed supplements or high fish intake
• fish allergy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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68 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

2

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo oral Omega-3 fish oil supplementation

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Oral omega-3 fish oil placebo

1

Experimental group

Description:

oral Omega-3 fish oil supplementation

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: omega-3 supplementation