Supplementary Effect of Oyster Extract on Depressed Patients under Treatment with Antidepressants (2nd Report)

Abstract

We examined the clinical effects of a new type of oyster extract with a zinc concentration three times higher than that of a previously tested sample (made by Japan Clinic Co., Ltd.) on 4 depressed patients and 6 normal control subjects. Doses of up to 3 tablets of this new oyster extract were administered to depressed patients for 6 to 10 days with or without antidepressants. We found that the clinical effects of the new oyster extract were almost the same as those of the previous one. However, from a clinical point of view, the fact that the new oyster extract requires smaller doses has an economic benefit. The zinc component of oyster extract is considered to play a major role in improving depression.