Is low dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids associated with depression?
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the association between the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and low mood, major depression, and suicide.


METHODS
A total of 29,133 men ages 50 to 69 years participated in a population-based trial in Finland. The intake of fatty acids and fish consumption were calculated from a diet history questionnaire. Self-reported depressed mood was recorded three times annually, data on hospital treatments due to a major depressive disorder were derived from the National Hospital Discharge Register, and suicides were identified from death certificates.


RESULTS
There were no associations between the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids or fish consumption and depressed mood, major depressive episodes, or suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids showed no association with low mood level.
Hakkarainen
Reeta
R
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. reeta.hakkarainen@ktl.fi
Partonen
Timo
T
Haukka
Jari
J
Virtamo
Jarmo
J
Albanes
Demetrius
D
Lönnqvist
Jouko
J
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D015930:Diet Records; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3