No association between fish intake and depression in over 15,000 older adults from seven low and middle income countries--the 10/66 study.
BACKGROUND
Evidence 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.


RESULTS
We 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 (I(2)>61%) and EURO-D criteria (I(2)>66%).


CONCLUSIONS
The 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.
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. emiliano.albanese@nih.gov
Emiliano
E
Albanese
Flavia L
FL
Lombardo
Alan D
AD
Dangour
Mariella
M
Guerra
Daisy
D
Acosta
Yueqin
Y
Huang
K S
KS
Jacob
Juan de Jesus
Jde J
Llibre Rodriguez
Aquiles
A
Salas
Claudia
C
Schönborn
Ana Luisa
AL
Sosa
Joseph
J
Williams
Martin J
MJ
Prince
Cleusa P
CP
Ferri
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005396:Fish Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors