Medical Advances and Case Report

Connection among wretchedness and Omega-3 unsaturated fats: An examination in the Greek populace

Abstract


Mehmet Ali Kaygin and Bilgehan Erkut

The role of essential fatty acids in the human body and especially the decreased levels of it in patients with depression is a domain of interest for many researchers. The aim of the present study is to investigate the correlation between consumption of food rich in omega- 3 fatty acids and depressive symptoms in the general population at the area of Larissa, central Greece. The sample consisted of 300 individuals (mean age 41.01, 137 men (46%) and 163 women (54%), randomly selected by the method of stratified multistage sampling. The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used in order to investigate the relationship between food consumption and depression. A statistically significant negative correlation was detected between fish consumption and score at the BDI-II (- 0.451, p<0.01). As concern the kind of fish consumed by our sample, statistically significant negative correlation was also detected by Pearson's Correlation Test. Individuals with increased consumption of fatty fish (rich in omega-3 fatty acids) have reduced scores at the BDI-II (- 0.453, p<0.01). The same statistical difference was found among the combined consumption of fish, seafood and food supplements (containing omega-3 fatty acids) and BDI-II score (-0.480, p<0.01). Finally, the combined consumption of fruit, vegetables and nuts was negatively correlated with BDI -II score (-0.260, p<0.01). The present study indicates that depressed mood in our sample is negatively associated with dietary intakes of food rich in omega-3 fatty acids. It is also clear that omega-3 fatty acids should be delivered in a dietary framework that includes and other important nutrients contained in fruits, vegetables and nuts.

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