Inositol and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Pediatric Mania
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Know the risks and potential benefits of clinical studies and talk to your health care provider before participating. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01396486 |
Recruitment Status
:
Recruiting
First Posted
: July 18, 2011
Last Update Posted
: January 18, 2018
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Pediatric Bipolar Spectrum Disorders | Drug: Omega-3 Drug: Inositol | Phase 4 |
The investigators propose to conduct a randomized, double blind, controlled trial that will evaluate effectiveness and tolerability of omega-3 fatty acids and inositol used alone and in combination. The investigators plan to decrease the variability in the population under study by limiting the age range to 5-12 years and excluding cases with significant, untreated, comorbidity. The cognitive effects/side effects with a neuropsychological battery pre and post treatment will be measured. Subjects with a history of failing treatment with two or more conventional treatments will be excluded.
This will be a 12-week, double-blind, randomized clinical trial study to compare efficacy and tolerability of the natural treatments omega-3 fatty acids and inositol used in combination in the treatment of bipolar spectrum disorders in children and adolescents (ages 5-12). Subjects will be randomized in double blind fashion to one of three arms: omega-3 fatty acids, inositol or the combined treatment. Further, the proposed study will include measures of cognition prior to starting study medication and at endpoint. The investigators will minimize the variability of the population under study by limiting the age range to 5-12 years, minimizing untreated or clinically significant comorbidity and excluding subjects who have already failed treatment with 2 or more anti-manic agents. Subjects will include youth ages 5-12 years with a bipolar spectrum disorder (type I, II, or NOS), mixed, manic, or hypomanic state, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) (DSM-IV), randomized to 3 treatment arms: 1) treatment with omega-3 fatty acids (N=20); 2) treatment with inositol (N=20); 3) treatment with the combination of inositol and omega-3 fatty acids (N=20).
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Randomized Controlled Trial of Inositol and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Pediatric Mania |
Study Start Date : | February 2012 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | January 2019 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | January 2019 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Omega-3/Placebo
Combination Omega-3 and Placebo treatment.
|
Drug: Omega-3
Children with bipolar spectrum disorders ages 6-12 will receive treatment with omega-3 fatty acids. Study subjects may be randomized to receive 3000mg (6 500mg capsules) of omega-3 fatty acids for the duration of the study. Omega-3 fatty acid capsules are in the form of Nordic Naturals brand, ProOmega Junior, which contains 325mg EPA and 225mg DHA per two capsules.
Other Name: ProOmega Junior
|
Active Comparator: Placebo/Inositol
Combination Placebo and Inositol treatment.
|
Drug: Inositol
Children with bipolar spectrum disorders ages 6-12 will receive treatment with inositol, omega-3 fatty acids, or both weekly for 12 weeks. Subjects weighing 25kg or more may be randomized to receive 2000mg (4 500mg capsules) of inositol (80mg/kg for a 25kg child). Children weighing less than 25kg will be dosed at 80mg/kg rounded down to the nearest thousand mg dose. Dosage will remain constant throughout the study.
|
Active Comparator: Omega-3/Inositol
Combination Omega-3 and Inositol treatment.
|
Drug: Omega-3
Children with bipolar spectrum disorders ages 6-12 will receive treatment with omega-3 fatty acids. Study subjects may be randomized to receive 3000mg (6 500mg capsules) of omega-3 fatty acids for the duration of the study. Omega-3 fatty acid capsules are in the form of Nordic Naturals brand, ProOmega Junior, which contains 325mg EPA and 225mg DHA per two capsules.
Other Name: ProOmega Junior
Drug: Inositol
Children with bipolar spectrum disorders ages 6-12 will receive treatment with inositol, omega-3 fatty acids, or both weekly for 12 weeks. Subjects weighing 25kg or more may be randomized to receive 2000mg (4 500mg capsules) of inositol (80mg/kg for a 25kg child). Children weighing less than 25kg will be dosed at 80mg/kg rounded down to the nearest thousand mg dose. Dosage will remain constant throughout the study.
|
- Improvement in mania symptoms by change in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) [ Time Frame: baseline to 12 weeks ]Primary outcome measure of efficacy will be assessed by mean change from baseline to endpoint in the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) total score.
- Improvement in depression symptoms by Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS) [ Time Frame: baseline to 12 weeks ]Primary outcome measures of efficacy will be assessed by mean change from baseline on the Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS).

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 5 Years to 12 Years (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female subjects, 5-12 years of age.
- Subjects must have a DSM-IV diagnosis of a bipolar spectrum disorder (type I, II, or Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)), and currently displaying mixed, manic, or hypomanic symptoms (without psychotic features) according to the DSM-IV based on clinical assessment and confirmed with structured diagnostic interview (Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children - Epidemiological Version (K-SADS-E)) (Orvaschel, 1994).
- Subjects and their legal representative must have a level of understanding sufficient to communicate intelligently with the investigator and study coordinator, and to cooperate with all tests and examinations required by the protocol.
- Subjects and their legal representative must be considered reliable.
- Each subject and his/her authorized legal representative must understand the nature of the study. The subject's authorized legal representative must sign an informed consent document and the subject must sign an informed assent document.
- Subjects must have an initial score on the YMRS total score of at least 20.
- Subject must be able to swallow pills.
- Subjects with ADHD and ODD will be allowed to participate in the study provided that the impairment associated with these disorders is of mild or moderate severity (not severe) and milder in severity relative to the impairment of the bipolar disorder, according to clinician evaluation. Subjects with comorbid anxiety disorders will be allowed to participate provided that the impairment associated with the anxiety is of minimal severity, according to clinician evaluation. Subjects with comorbid CD will be excluded.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Investigator and his/her immediate family; defined as the investigator's spouse, parent, child, grandparent, or grandchild.
- Serious or unstable illness including hepatic, renal, gastroenterological, respiratory, cardiovascular (including ischemic heart disease), endocrinologic, neurologic, immunologic, or hematologic disease.
- History of bleeding diathesis, including those with von Willebrand disease.
- Uncorrected hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
- History of sensitivity to omega-3 fatty acids or inositol. A non-responder or history of intolerance to omega-3 fatty acid or inositol, after 2 months of treatment at adequate doses as determined by the clinician.
- Severe allergies or multiple adverse drug reactions.
- Failed 2 or more previous trials with anti-manic treatments including lithium, anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotic medication.
- Current or past history of seizures.
- DSM-IV substance use, abuse or dependence (unlikely in ages 5-12).
- Judged clinically to be at serious suicidal risk.
- Current diagnosis of schizophrenia.
- Current diagnosis of conduct disorder
- Pregnancy (unlikely in ages 5-12).
- YMRS Item #8 (Content) score of 8 ("delusions; hallucinations").
- YMRS total score above 40.
- Girls who have begun menstruating.
- C-SSRS score ≥ 4.
- IQ < 70.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01396486
Contact: Rebecca Wolenski | 617-643-6617 | rwolenski@partners.org | |
Contact: Alexa Pulli, BS | 617-726-4651 | apulli@mgh.harvard.edu |
United States, Massachusetts | |
Massachusetts General Hospital | Recruiting |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114 |
Principal Investigator: | Janet Wozniak, MD | Massachusetts General Hospital |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Janet Wozniak, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and at Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01396486 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2009-P-001937 |
First Posted: | July 18, 2011 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 18, 2018 |
Last Verified: | January 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Keywords provided by Janet Wozniak, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fish Oil Inositol Natural supplements |
Bipolar Spectrum Disorders Mania Depression Children |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Inositol Vitamin B Complex Vitamins |
Micronutrients Growth Substances Physiological Effects of Drugs |