title: Omega-3 fatty acid biomarkers and subsequent depressive symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the relationship between the omega-3 fatty acid content of red blood cell membranes (RBC), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and baseline and new-onset depressive symptoms in post-menopausal women. We secondarily sought to characterize the association between dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake and depressive symptomatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants included 7086 members of the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (aged 63-81 years) who had an assessment of RBC omega-3 fatty acid concentrations at the baseline screening visit. Depressive symptoms at baseline and follow-up were characterized using the Burnam eight-item scale for depressive disorders (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale/Diagnostic Interview Schedule short form) and secondarily additionally inferred by antidepressant medication use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariable-adjusted models, our primary exposure, RBC DHA + EPA, was not related to depressive symptoms by any measure at baseline or follow-up, nor were RBC total omega-3, DHA, or EPA (all p > 0.2). In contrast, dietary intake of omega-3 was positively associated with depressive symptoms at baseline (adjusted odds ratio 1.082, 95% confidence interval 1.004-1.166; p = 0.04 for dietary DHA + EPA and Burnam score ≥0.06), although this generally did not persist at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No relationship between RBC omega-3 levels and subsequent depressive symptoms was evident, and associations between dietary omega-3 and depressive symptoms were variable. Biomarkers of omega-3 status do not appear to be related to risk of new depression in post-menopausal women.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors: Jane E
authors: JE
authors: Persons
authors: Jennifer G
authors: JG
authors: Robinson
authors: Eric M
authors: EM
authors: Ammann
authors: William H
authors: WH
authors: Coryell
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Espeland
authors: William S
authors: WS
authors: Harris
authors: JoAnn E
authors: JE
authors: Manson
authors: Jess G
authors: JG
authors: Fiedorowicz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: biological markers; depression; diet; eicosapentaenoic acid; epidemiologic studies; omega-3 fatty acids