title: Association of serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with psychological distress in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy: Adjunct Study of Japan Environment and Children's Study.
abstract: The results of several epidemiological studies and clinical trials investigating the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on antenatal and postnatal depression remain controversial. In a previous case-control study of early pregnancy in Japan, we found an inverse association between eicosapentaenoic acid and risk of psychological distress after adjusting for possible confounders. Here, in a 1:2 matched case-control study, we further investigated the possible relationship between serum n-3 PUFAs and risk of psychological distress in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The psychological distress group (n=71) consisted of subjects with a score of ≥13 on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. The control group (n=142) was matched for age, educational level, and family income. Fatty acid composition of total lipid was determined from serum samples by gas chromatography. Associations between fatty acid levels and incidence of psychological distress were evaluated by logistic regression. Sixty-six percent of blood samples were collected in the second trimester and the remainder in the third. There were no significant differences in any of the n-3 PUFAs between the two groups. After adjustment for possible confounders, none of the n-3 PUFAs showed an association with risk of psychological distress. Peripheral n-3 PUFA levels might not influence the risk of psychological distress in later pregnancy. Further research is warranted to clarify this finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan. Electronic address: keihama@med.u-toyama.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamazaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Functional Analysis of Marine Materials, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harauma
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Namai
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Functional Analysis of Marine Materials, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan; Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Science, Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moriguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidekuni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inadera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Case-control study; Pregnancy; Psychological distress; n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids