Associations of the Ratios of n-3 to n-6 Dietary Fatty Acids With Longitudinal Changes in Depressive Symptoms Among US Women

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology Vol. 181; no. 9; pp. 691 - 705
• Main Authors: Beydoun, May A, Fanelli Kuczmarski, Marie T, Beydoun, Hind A, Rostant, Ola S, Evans, Michele K, Zonderman, Alan B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford Publishing Limited (England) 01.05.2015; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Baltimore - epidemiology; Depression - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - prevention & control; Diet; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - administration & dosage; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Original Contributions; Sex Characteristics; Standard deviation; Women; Baltimore; United States > US; diet; n-3 fatty acids; depressive symptoms; adults; longitudinal studies
• ISSN: 0002-9262; 1476-6256
• DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwu334

In the present study, we examined longitudinal changes in self-reported depressive symptoms (and related domains) in relation to baseline intakes of n-3 fatty acids (absolute and relative to n-6 fatty acids). Sex-specific associations were evaluated in a prospective cohort of adults (n = 2,053) from Baltimore, Maryland, who were 30-64 years of age at baseline and were followed for a mean of 4.65 (standard deviation, 0.93) years (2004-2013). Using mean intakes of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids reported on two 24-hour dietary recalls, we estimated the ratios of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids for both highly unsaturated fatty acids (≥20 carbon atoms) (HUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (≥18 carbon atoms) (PUFAs). Outcomes included total and domain-specific scores on the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. Based on mixed-effects regression models, among women, both higher n-3 HUFA:n-6 PUFA and n-3 PUFA:n-6 PUFA ratios were associated with a slower rate of increase in total Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scores over time. Higher n-3 HUFA:n-6 HUFA ratios were associated with slower increases in somatic complaints in men, whereas among women, higher n-3 HUFA:n-6 PUFA and n-3 PUFA:n-6 PUFA ratios were both linked to putative longitudinal improvement in positive affect over time. Among US adults, n-3:n-6 dietary fatty acid ratio was associated with longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms, with a higher ratio linked to a slower increase in depressive symptoms over time, particularly among women.