Omega‐3 fatty acid biomarkers and subsequent depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective We sought to determine the relationship between the omega-3 fatty acid content of red blood cell membranes (RBC), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and baseline and new-onset depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women. We secondarily sought to characterize the association between dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake and depressive symptomatology. Methods Study participants included 7,086 members of the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (aged 63–81) who had an assessment of RBC omega-3 fatty acid concentrations at the baseline screening visit. Depressive symptoms at baseline and follow-up were characterized using the Burnam 8-item scale for depressive disorders (CES-D/DIS short form), and secondarily additionally inferred by antidepressant medication use. Results In multivariable-adjusted models, our primary exposure, RBC DHA+EPA, was not related to depressive symptoms by any measure at baseline or follow-up, nor were RBC total omega-3, DHA, or EPA (all p>0.2). In contrast, dietary intake of omega-3 was positively associated with depressive symptoms at baseline (adjusted OR 1.082, 95% C.I. 1.004–1.166; p=0.04 for dietary DHA+EPA and Burnam Score ≥ 0.06), although this generally did not persist at follow-up. Conclusion No relationship between RBC omega-3 levels and subsequent depressive symptoms was evident, and associations between dietary omega-3 and depressive symptoms were variable. Biomarkers of omega-3 status do not appear to be related to risk of new depression in post-menopausal women.

Heart Rate Variability and Omega-3 Index in Euthymic Patients with Bipolar Disorders

“…The Omega-3 Index [40] did not differ between our euthymic patients with bipolar disorders and healthy controls, whereas in patients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder/dysthymia, a lower Omega-3 Index than in healthy controls has been observed [3,30]. In contrast, in patients with various medical conditions and depressive symptoms, but without a formal diagnosis of major depressive disorder, the evidence is controversial [1,2,28]. Thus, from the perspective of the Omega-3 Index, bipolar disorders and major depressive disorder may represent distinct disease entities.…”

Depression in midlife women

“…Neither do biomarkers of omega-3 appear to be related to risk of new depression in postmenopausal women (50), however, women with higher serum magnesium and zinc levels had fewer depressive symptoms (51), although this was a small study of only 171 women.…”

Factors Associated With New-Onset Depression After Stroke

“…Consistent with prior studies,(11, 17–19) we defined depression using two data sources. The first was using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a 20-item screening tool capturing levels of depressive symptoms.…”