Fish consumption and depressive symptoms in undergraduate students: A cross-sectional analysis.
BACKGROUND
Emerging evidence suggests that fish consumption may have beneficial effects on mood disorders. However, no study has been reported on this issue in young adults to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fish consumption and depressive symptoms in Japanese undergraduate students.


METHODS
The 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms with a cut-off score of 16. A total of 4190 completed questionnaires (from 2124 men and 2066 women) were received for analysis.


RESULTS
Multivariate logistic analysis showed that fish intake was inversely associated with risk of depressive symptoms in undergraduate students. After adjustment for possible confounders, the odds-ratios (95% confidence intervals) for fish intake 1-2 times/month, 1-2 times/week, 3-4 times/week, and almost every day (compared with "almost never") were 0.78 (0.62-0.99), 0.70 (0.56-0.87), 0.67 (0.53-0.85) and 0.65 (0.46-0.92), respectively. This association tended to be stronger in women than in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Frequent fish consumption in undergraduate students seems to moderate depressive symptoms. Further research is warranted to clarify the causality.
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. Electronic address: keihama@med.u-toyama.ac.jp.
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K
Hamazaki
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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T
Natori
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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S
Kurihara
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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N
Murata
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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ZG
Cui
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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M
Kigawa
Faculty of Economics, University of Toyama, Toyama City, Toyama 930-8555, Japan.
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R
Morozumi
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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H
Inadera
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005396:Fish Products; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Cross-sectional study; Depressive symptoms; Fish consumption; Undergraduate students