Is Low Dietary Intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Associated With Depression?

Reeta Hakkarainen, Timo Partonen, Jari Haukka, Jarmo Virtamo, Demetrius Albanes, Jouko Lönnqvist
2004 American Journal of Psychiatry  
Objective: This study examined the association between the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and low mood, major depression, and suicide. Method: A total of 29,133 men ages 50 to 69 years participated in a population-based trial in Finland. The intake of fatty acids and fish consumption were calculated from a diet history questionnaire. Self-reported depressed mood was recorded three times annually, data on hospital treatments due to a major depressive disorder were derived from the
more » ... Hospital Discharge Register, and suicides were identified from death certificates. Results: There were no associations between the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids or fish consumption and depressed mood, major depressive episodes, or suicide. Conclusions: Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids showed no association with low mood level. (Am J Psychiatry 2004; 161:567-569)
doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.161.3.567 pmid:14992986 fatcat:ghvgt7mxubggvfidr7h337ffzy