Association between saturated fatty acid intake and depressive symptoms in midlife women: A prospective study

This prospective investigation examined relations between baseline dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake of women at midlife and prevalence of depressive symptoms 4 years later.

Women enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) had measures of CES-D depression scores 4 years later and SFA intake at baseline. Logistic regression models were used to study prospective associations between SFA intake and depressive symptoms.

A total of 2400 women aged 42-52 years were included in the present study. The ORs of depressive symptoms in model 1 adjustment for baseline CES-D score indicated that baseline SFA intake was positively associated with depressive symptoms. After additional adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, education, financial strain, physical activity, smoking currently, BMI, menopausal status, VMS, chronic stress and use of antidepressant in model 2, the results were similar to those of the model 1. This association remained statistically significant and changed little when additional controlling for SHBG and FSH in fully adjusted model 3. The fully adjusted OR of depressive symptoms in model 3 was 2.423 (1.142-5.143) in quartile 4 (the highest) versus quartile 1 (the lowest) of the baseline SFA intake.

Assessment of depression and SFA intake was based on a self-report scale.

Baseline SFA intake is a predictor for depressive symptoms assessed 4 years later in midlife women. This underlines the importance of targeting SFA intake in the prevention of major depression in midlife women.