No Association between Fish Intake and Depression in over 15,000 Older Adults from Seven Low and Middle Income Countries–The 10/66 Study

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence on the association between fish consumption and depression is inconsistent and virtually non-existent from low- and middle-income countries. Using a standard protocol, we aim to assess the association of fish consumption and late-life depression in seven low- and middle-income countries.Methodology/FindingsWe used cross-sectional data from the 10/66 cohort study and applied two diagnostic criteria for late-life depression to assess the association between categories of weekly fish consumption and depression according to ICD-10 and the EURO-D depression symptoms scale scores, adjusting for relevant confounders. All-catchment area surveys were carried out in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, China, and India, and over 15,000 community-dwelling older adults (65+) were sampled. Using Poisson models the adjusted association between categories of fish consumption and ICD-10 depression was positive in India (p for trend = 0.001), inverse in Peru (p = 0.025), and not significant in all other countries. We found a linear inverse association between fish consumption categories and EURO-D scores only in Cuba (p for trend = 0.039) and China (p<0.001); associations were not significant in all other countries. Between-country heterogeneity was marked for both ICD-10 (I2>61%) and EURO-D criteria (I2>66%).ConclusionsThe associations of fish consumption with depression in large samples of older adults varied markedly across countries and by depression diagnosis and were explained by socio-demographic and lifestyle variables. Experimental studies in these settings are needed to confirm our findings.

Fish consumption and risk of depression: a meta-analysis

“…The 26 studies were published between years 2001 and 2014, and involved a total of 150 278 participants. Of these studies, 10 were cohort studies12 13 16–19 26 28 and 16 were cross-sectional studies 11 14 15 27 29–32. With regard to the study continent, 10 studies were conducted in Europe,11–15 29 31 32 7 in North America,16 17 27 28 4 in Asia,18 27 30 3 in Oceania19 26 and 2 in South America 27.…”

“…Of these studies, 10 were cohort studies12 13 16–19 26 28 and 16 were cross-sectional studies 11 14 15 27 29–32. With regard to the study continent, 10 studies were conducted in Europe,11–15 29 31 32 7 in North America,16 17 27 28 4 in Asia,18 27 30 3 in Oceania19 26 and 2 in South America 27. Nine studies evaluated the association between fish consumption and depression in men,12 15 16 26 28–30 32 and 10 studies did so in women 11 12 15–17 19 26 28 30 32.…”

“…Next we conducted the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. Three studies14 27 were found to contribute to between-study heterogeneity. After further excluding these studies, the heterogeneity (I 2 =33%, P Q =0.06) was decreased and the result remained significant (RR=0.81, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.87).…”

Fish consumption and risk of depression: Epidemiological evidence from prospective studies

“…In addition to prospective studies, many cross‐sectional studies examined the association between fish consumption or omega‐3 fatty acid intake and depression (Albanese et al, ; Barberger‐Gateau et al, ; Beydoun et al, ; Bountziouka et al, ; Chrysohoou et al, ; Daley, Patterson, Sibbritt, & MacDonald‐Wicks, ; Hamazaki et al, ; Hoffmire, Block, Thevenet‐Morrison, & van Wijngaarden, ; Jacka et al, ; Kamphuis et al, ; Kesse‐Guyot et al, ; Mihrshahi et al, ; Murakami et al, ; Suominen‐Taipale et al, ; Supartini, Oishi, & Yagi, ; Tanskanen et al, ; Timonen et al, ; Wu et al, ; Yang & Je, ). Most of the studies reported significant inverse associations between fish consumption and depression (Barberger‐Gateau et al, ; Bountziouka et al, ; Chrysohoou et al, ; Hamazaki et al, ; Supartini et al, ; Suominen‐Taipale et al, ; Tanskanen et al, ; Timonen et al, ; Wu et al, ), and some of the studies showed strong inverse associations, suggesting more than 50% decreased prevalence of depression for people with high fish consumption (Albanese et al, ; Chrysohoou et al, ; Suominen‐Taipale et al, ; Supartini et al, ; Timonen et al, ). Studies evaluating omega‐3 fatty acid intake and depression also mostly found significant or nonsignificant inverse associations between omega‐3 fatty acid intake and the prevalence of depression (Beydoun et al, ; Hoffmire et al, ; Kamphuis et al, ; Kesse‐Guyot et al, ; Murakami et al, ).…”

Sintomas depressivos, atividade física e obesidade de idosos residentes no munícipio de São Paulo - Estudo SABE: Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento

“…Dentre os sintomas da depressão destaca-se a tristeza, a visão negativa de si e do mundo, as alterações no apetite, na libido, no sono e no ânimo (PEREIRA, 2016 Estudo realizado em sete países de baixa e média renda por Albanese et al (2012) sobre depressão em idosos, mostrou que a prevalência de depressão variou de 0,5% na China para 13,8% em República Dominicana, de acordo com os critérios diagnósticos da CID-10. Utilizando critérios de outra classificação, EURO-D encontrou-se prevalência ainda mais elevada, que variou de 2,8% na China para 41,5% na Índia.…”