Effects of dietary fat intervention on mental health in women.
Several studies have identified potential detrimental sequelae of cholesterol and fat-lowering interventions in randomized trial. Little research has been published to document changes in mental health in women as a result of fat and cholesterol lowering interventions to prevent chronic disease. This paper examines the relationships among changes in dietary fat consumption and mental health in the Women's Health Trial, a randomized, controlled trial to determine whether lowering fat consumption to 20% of daily calories could reduce the incidence of breast cancer in women ages 45-69 years. Assessments were made at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up of several aspects of quality of life, including negative and positive affect and past, present, and future perceptions of health. Mental health variables were measured by the Mental Health Inventory, a standardized scale used in the Medical Outcomes study. Dietary intake was assessed for all subjects with the use of semiquantitative food frequency questionnaires. The change in mental health values (follow-up minus baseline) was significantly different between intervention and control groups for three of the four psychological variables: (a) anxiety; (b) depression; and (c) vigor. In all three cases, the direction of the change for intervention women was positive. Neither randomization assignment nor percent of calories from fat at the follow-up visit were significant predictors of mental health at the 1-year follow-up. Cholesterol changes were not related to levels of mental health variables in a sample of the women. These data indicate that lowering fat in the diets of healthy women does not produce overall lowering of any mental health variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Bowen
D J
DJ
Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA.
Kestin
M
M
McTiernan
A
A
Carrell
D
D
Green
P
P
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000523:psychology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D002784:Cholesterol