Negligible long‐chain omega‐3 intake among vegetarians is not associated with negative emotion

Abstract

Considering the low eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status widely reported for vegetarians, and the evidence that EPA+DHA promotes mental health, we examined the relationship between dietary EPA+DHA and depression in healthy vegetarian (VEG) and omnivore (OMN) adults from Seventh‐Day Adventist populations in the Southwest. Participants (60 VEG; 78 OMN) completed a survey including a food frequency questionnaire and Depression Anxiety Stress (DASS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) scales. VEG consumed less EPA+DHA and arachidonic acid (AA), but significantly more a‐linoleic acid and linoleic acid, compared to OMN. VEG reported significantly less negative emotion than OMN as assessed by DASS scores (8.3±0.9 and 17.5±1.9, p=.003, adjusted for the confounding variable, physical activity). VEG tended to report less mood disturbance than OMN as assessed by POMS scores (0.1±2.0 and 15.3±3.1, p=.083, adjusted for age and physical activity); however, VEG females reported significantly less mood disturbance than OMN females (1.6±2.9 vs 22.2±4.6, p=.006). Moreover, dietary AA, but not EPA+DHA, was significantly related to mood disturbance among omnivores (r=.256, p=.024). We conclude that VEG reported less negative emotion than OMN due perhaps to lower intakes of AA which may alter brain eicosanoid profile and inflammatory potential. This research was supported by the ASU Nutrition Research Fund.

A Comprehensive Review of the Benefits of and the Barriers to the Switch to a Plant-Based Diet

“…It should be emphasized, however, that scientific views on the impact of plant-based nutrition on mental health are divided. In addition to the negative effects presented above, several researchers believe that, in a number of cases, plant-based nutrition can also have a positive effect on the individual's mood [99][100][101].…”