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.