Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are inversely associated with depressive symptoms in women
Abstract
Objective Experimental and observational data suggest higher dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated acids may lead to decreased risk of depressive disorders. We assessed multivariable-adjusted associations of fish consumption and dietary intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] with depressive symptoms in a population-based sample of 3,317 African American and Caucasian men and women from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study (CARDIA). Methods Diet was assessed in Year 7 (1992–93) and depressive symptoms were measured in Years 10 (1995–96), 15 (2000–01), and 20 (2005–06) by the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Depressive symptoms were defined as CES-D score ≥ 16 or self-reported use of antidepressant medication. Results In the entire cohort, the highest quintiles of intakes of EPA (at least 0.03% energy), DHA (at least 0.05% energy), and EPA+DHA (at least 0.08% energy) were associated with lower risk of depressive symptoms at Year 10 (p-trends: 0.16, 0.10, 0.03, respectively). The observed inverse associations were more pronounced in women. For the total number of occasions with depressive symptoms, the multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) in women were 0.75 (0.55–1.01) for fish intake; 0.66 (0.50–0.89), for EPA; 0.66 (0.49–0.89) for DHA; and 0.71 (0.52–0.95) for EPA+DHA, when comparing highest to lowest quintiles. Analyses of continuous CES-D scores…
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