Decreasing Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Schizophrenia by Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation

We propose to study the effects of EPA (2 g of EPA in 4 x 500 mg capsules daily) compared to placebo supplementation in clinically-stable schizophrenic patients being treated with statins (n=30 each) for 4 months using a randomized, double-blind design. The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines will be used to select those patients with CAD risk to participate. Clinical assessments and comprehensive assessment of the risk for CAD, including plasma total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)- (HDL2- and HDL3-), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- (LDL-Real-, Lp(a)-, and IDL-), and VLDL- (VLDL1,2- and VLDL3-) cholesterol, plasma triglycerides, as well as plasma homocysteine and high sensitivity C-reactive protein, will be conducted at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 4 months after supplementation. It is anticipated that patients who receive EPA supplementation will have significantly greater reduction in plasma triglycerides and LDL4-cholesterol, and increases in HDL2-cholesterol measures, as well as improvements in psychopathology severity than those patients receiving placebo. If indeed EPA is effective in decreasing the risk of CAD, any psychiatric benefits from EPA supplementation will be a further boon to the patients and the treatment team. A tremendous advantage to the clinical use of EPA includes low cost, no significant side effects, and ease of use.