title: Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression. However, there is limited evidence regarding the influence of dietary n-3 PUFA intake on mood in adolescents drawn from population studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present investigation, we examined the relationship between dietary n-3 PUFA intake on depression symptomatology in a large prospective pregnancy cohort followed for 17 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents enrolled in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess dietary fatty acid intake, as well as other dietary factors at age 14 and a fasting blood sample was taken. Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI-Y) at age 14 (N = 1,407) and at age 17 (N = 995).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An inverse relationship was observed between intake of both saturated fat and of n-3 PUFA at age 14 and BDI-Y scores at both 14 and 17 years of age. However, after adjusting for energy (kJ) intake and other lifestyle confounders, the relationships were no longer significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Associations previously reported between n3 PUFA and depressive symptoms may be due to collinearity with other dietary and lifestyle factors.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. wendyo@ichr.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Wendy H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oddy
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hickling
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Therese A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Nicholas H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Beilin
authors.forename: Trevor A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Syrette
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Zubrick
authors.forename: Sven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Silburn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3