Erythrocyte n–3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid and Seafood Intake Decrease the Risk of Depression: Case-Control Study in Korea

Abstract

Background/Aims: Low intake or tissue levels of n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been associated with an increased risk of depression, but some studies do not support the association. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that erythrocyte levels of n–3 PUFA and intake of seafood are negatively associated with the risk of depression in Koreans. Methods: We investigated 80 patients diagnosed with a score ≥25 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Korean version, and confirmed by a psychiatrist. Eighty-eight controls without a chronic disease were matched to the cases for age and sex. Results: Multivariate-adjusted regression analysis showed that the risk of depression was significantly and negatively associated with erythrocyte levels of 20:5 n–3, 22:6 n–3, 16:0 and 18:0, but positively associated with erythrocyte levels of 18:2t and 16:1 after adjusting for confounding factors. In addition, the risk of depression was negatively associated with the intake of energy, carbohydrate, seafood and grains, but positively with the intake of fat and meat after adjustment for confounding factors. Conclusions: The risk of depression could be decreased with increased erythrocyte levels of n–3 PUFA and saturated fatty acids, as well as seafood intake, but decreased erythrocyte levels of trans fatty acids in Koreans.

Omega‐3 fatty acid biomarkers and subsequent depressive symptoms

“…While RBC omega-3 levels were not associated with depressive symptoms, the reduced odds of new depression at follow-up in those with dietary DHA+EPA in the highest tertile of intake relative to the lowest tertile would be consistent with that of previous studies in a variety of populations (Ali et al , 2009, Amin et al , 2008, Baghai et al , 2011, Freeman et al , 2011, Park et al , 2012, Pottala et al , 2012b). The Freeman et al trial supplemented with EPA and DHA at 2 g/day, which although somewhat higher, corresponds to the third tertile of dietary DHA+EPA intake noted in our study (0.12g – 2.03g).…”

Mood, food, and obesity

“…On the other hand, diet like the Mediterranean diet appears to reduce depression (Sanchez-Villegas and Martinez-Gonzalez, 2013; Sanchez-Villegas et al, 2013). Furthermore, many reports show the increased incidence of depression on diets that lack omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and that depression is reduced when intake of PUFA is increased in both humans (Lin and Su, 2007; Sanchez-Villegas et al, 2007; Oddy et al, 2011; Park et al, 2012a) and rodents (Moranis et al, 2012; Park et al, 2012b). Besides mood changes, high fat diets promote increased weight gain, visceral adipose tissue, larger waist circumference, and more cardiovascular disease mortality (Schulze et al, 2006; Molenaar et al, 2009; Romaguera et al, 2009, 2010; Mozaffarian et al, 2011; Estruch and Salas-Salvado, 2013; Nazare et al, 2013).…”

Metabolic disturbances connecting obesity and depression

“…The consumption of foods rich in saturated and/or trans-fat, like the Western diet, is associated with an increased incidence of depression whereas diets containing mostly unsaturated fats, such as the Mediterranean diet, appear to reduce the odds of depression (Sanchez-Villegas and Martinez-Gonzalez, 2013). Other reports indicate that inadequate dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are associated with a higher incidence of depression (Peet et al, 1998) and that increasing omega-3 PUFA by greater consumption of fish can either decrease depressive symptoms in humans (Lin and Su, 2007; Sanchez-Villegas et al, 2007; Oddy et al, 2011; Park et al, 2012a) and rodents (Moranis et al, 2012; Park et al, 2012b) or have no effect on mood (Ruusunen et al, 2011). A considerable amount of data shows that diets rich in saturated fatty acids are associated with increases in overall adiposity and bias fat accumulation in abdominal stores.…”