title: Trans fatty acid intake is related to emotional affect in the Adventist Health Study-2.
abstract: Trans fatty acids in Western diets increase health risks, and have been associated with the risk of depression. We hypothesized that intakes of trans fatty acids (primarily from margarines and baked goods) were inversely associated with positive affect and positively associated with negative affect in a longitudinal study. Church attendees residing in North America completed a food frequency questionnaire in 2002-6 as part of the Adventist Health Study-2. A subset in which we excluded participants with established cardiovascular disease (n=8,771) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in 2006-7. The associations between dietary intakes of fatty acids to positive and negative affect were tested with linear regression analysis controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, education, body mass index, exercise, sleep, sleep squared, Mediterranean diet, total energy intake and alcohol. Intakes of trans fatty acids were inversely associated with positive affect (β=-0.06, B=-0.27 [95% CI -0.37, -0.17], p<.001) and positively associated with negative affect (β=0.05, B=0.21 [95% CI 0.11, 0.31], p<.001). In comparison, we found no association between n-3 polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFA) intakes with affect. The n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio was inversely associated with positive affect (β=-0.03, B=-0.34 [95% CI -0.58, -0.10], p=0.006). The findings suggest that a lower dietary trans fatty acid intake has beneficial effects on emotional affect while the n-6: n-3 ratio is detrimental to positive affect.
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Department of Health Education, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Department of Nutrition, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaceldo-Siegl
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Department of Health Education, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
authors.forename: Jerry W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Department of Health Education, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; Oslo University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Pb 4956 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tonstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D015444:Exercise; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids
keywords: Diet; Fatty acids; Longitudinal studies; Mental health; Mood; Trans fatty acids