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Is low dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids associated with depression?
Reeta Hakkarainen1, Timo Partonen, Jari Haukka
1Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. reeta.hakkarainen@ktl.fi
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 National 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.
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