Fish Oil Intake Associated with Lower Risk of Depression

High intake of fish and two key omega-3 fats, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are associated with a significantly lower risk of depression, according to a new study of 3,317 men and women.

Laura A. Colangelo, MS, of the Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, and her colleagues assessed 3,317 Caucasian and African-American men and women. The subjects ranged from 18 to 30 years of age at the beginning of the study.

The subjects' diets were assessed during the seventh year of the study. During the 10th year of the study, Colangelo and her colleagues also measured the subjects' scores on standardized tests for depression, as well as their use of antidepressant medications.

Overall, high intake of fish, EPA, and DHA were associated with a lower risk of depression, though the benefits were more pronounced in women. Women with the highest fish consumption were 25 percent less likely to feel chronically depressed. Similarly, women with the highest consumption of EPA or DHA were 34 percent less likely to be depressed.

Reference: Colangelo LA, He K, Whooley MA, et al. Higher dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in women. Nutrition, 2009; epub ahead of print.