Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment

Summary Objective The typical Western diet is deficient in omega‐3 and high in omega‐6 fatty acids (FAs). These FAs may play a role in depressive symptoms via inflammatory processes, especially in the context of obesity, a pro‐inflammatory state. This study investigated associations between omega‐3...

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Main Authors: Anna K. Luke, E. Whitney Evans, Dale S. Bond, J. Graham Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-03-01
Series:Obesity Science & Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.21
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spelling doaj-1d309244760c4fd88ed14cc8624a17372020-11-25T02:28:24ZengWileyObesity Science & Practice2055-22382016-03-0121758210.1002/osp4.21Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatmentAnna K. Luke0E. Whitney Evans1Dale S. Bond2J. Graham Thomas3Department of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University The Miriam Hospital/Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center Providence RI USADepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University The Miriam Hospital/Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center Providence RI USADepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University The Miriam Hospital/Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center Providence RI USADepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University The Miriam Hospital/Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center Providence RI USASummary Objective The typical Western diet is deficient in omega‐3 and high in omega‐6 fatty acids (FAs). These FAs may play a role in depressive symptoms via inflammatory processes, especially in the context of obesity, a pro‐inflammatory state. This study investigated associations between omega‐3 and omega‐6 FA intake and depressive symptoms in adults seeking behavioural weight loss treatment (BWLT). Methods One hundred eighty‐eight persons with overweight or obesity (83.50% women, 93.10% White, 55.01 ± 10.09 years old, body mass index 36.02 ± 15.79 kg/m) seeking BWLT completed the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire, which provides estimates of dietary FA intake, daily total energy intake (TEI) and macronutrient composition of the diet. Depressive symptoms were measured via the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Correlation and linear regression estimated associations between depressive symptoms and FAs. Results On average, participants reported consuming 1866.2 ± 665.1 kcals/d, with 38% of TEI from fat and an omega‐6:3 ratio of 9.2 (13.9 g omega‐6 to 1.5 g omega‐3). In univariate models, omega‐6 intake was associated with depressive symptoms (r = .182, p = .012); however, this association was no longer statistically significant after controlling for TEI. Omega‐3 intake was not associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion The expected association between omega‐3 and omega‐6 FAs and depressive symptoms was largely unsupported. A robust association between FA intake and depressive symptoms may have been masked by a high level of chronic inflammation in this sample caused by excess weight and overall poor diet. Additional research is needed to determine whether BWLT improves FA intake, and whether associations between FA intake and depressive symptoms are strengthened after successful weight loss and improved diet.https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.21Dietmoodomega fatty acids
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Anna K. Luke
E. Whitney Evans
Dale S. Bond
J. Graham Thomas
spellingShingle Anna K. Luke
E. Whitney Evans
Dale S. Bond
J. Graham Thomas
Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment
Obesity Science & Practice
Diet
mood
omega fatty acids
author_facet Anna K. Luke
E. Whitney Evans
Dale S. Bond
J. Graham Thomas
author_sort Anna K. Luke
title Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment
title_short Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment
title_full Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment
title_fullStr Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment
title_full_unstemmed Associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment
title_sort associations between omega fatty acid consumption and depressive symptoms among individuals seeking behavioural weight loss treatment
publisher Wiley
series Obesity Science & Practice
issn 2055-2238
publishDate 2016-03-01
description Summary Objective The typical Western diet is deficient in omega‐3 and high in omega‐6 fatty acids (FAs). These FAs may play a role in depressive symptoms via inflammatory processes, especially in the context of obesity, a pro‐inflammatory state. This study investigated associations between omega‐3 and omega‐6 FA intake and depressive symptoms in adults seeking behavioural weight loss treatment (BWLT). Methods One hundred eighty‐eight persons with overweight or obesity (83.50% women, 93.10% White, 55.01 ± 10.09 years old, body mass index 36.02 ± 15.79 kg/m) seeking BWLT completed the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire, which provides estimates of dietary FA intake, daily total energy intake (TEI) and macronutrient composition of the diet. Depressive symptoms were measured via the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Correlation and linear regression estimated associations between depressive symptoms and FAs. Results On average, participants reported consuming 1866.2 ± 665.1 kcals/d, with 38% of TEI from fat and an omega‐6:3 ratio of 9.2 (13.9 g omega‐6 to 1.5 g omega‐3). In univariate models, omega‐6 intake was associated with depressive symptoms (r = .182, p = .012); however, this association was no longer statistically significant after controlling for TEI. Omega‐3 intake was not associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion The expected association between omega‐3 and omega‐6 FAs and depressive symptoms was largely unsupported. A robust association between FA intake and depressive symptoms may have been masked by a high level of chronic inflammation in this sample caused by excess weight and overall poor diet. Additional research is needed to determine whether BWLT improves FA intake, and whether associations between FA intake and depressive symptoms are strengthened after successful weight loss and improved diet.
topic Diet
mood
omega fatty acids
url https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.21
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