Vegetarian diets are associated with healthy mood states: a cross-sectional study in Seventh Day Adventist adults

Abstract

BackgroundThe physical health status of vegetarians has been extensively reported, but there is limited research regarding the mental health status of vegetarians, particularly with regard to mood. Vegetarian diets exclude fish, the major dietary source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), critical regulators of brain cell structure and function. Omnivorous diets low in EPA and DHA are linked to impaired mood states in observational and experimental studies.MethodsWe examined associations between mood state and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake as a result of adherence to a vegetarian or omnivorous diet in a cross-sectional study of 138 healthy Seventh Day Adventist men and women residing in the Southwest. Participants completed a quantitative food frequency questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), and Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaires.ResultsVegetarians (VEG:n = 60) reported significantly less negative emotion than omnivores (OMN:n = 78) as measured by both mean total DASS and POMS scores (8.32 ± 0.88 vs 17.51 ± 1.88, p = .000 and 0.10 ± 1.99 vs 15.33 ± 3.10, p = .007, respectively). VEG reported significantly lower mean intakes of EPA (p < .001), DHA (p < .001), as well as the omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid (AA; p < .001), and reported higher mean intakes of shorter-chain α-linolenic acid (p < .001) and linoleic acid (p < .001) than OMN. Mean total DASS and POMS scores were positively related to mean intakes of EPA (p < 0.05), DHA (p < 0.05), and AA (p < 0.05), and inversely related to intakes of ALA (p < 0.05), and LA (p < 0.05), indicating that participants with low intakes of EPA, DHA, and AA and high intakes of ALA and LA had better mood.ConclusionsThe vegetarian diet profile does not appear to adversely affect mood despite low intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Diet and Mental Health: An Up-to-Date Analysis

“…Neither EPA nor ALA levels were related to cognitive performance. At first sight, this finding seems to contradict a report by Beezhold et al [49] describing less negative mood states in seventh day Adventist vegetarians who had low intakes of AA, but higher intakes of ALA and LA, than omnivores. Surprisingly, vegetarians also consumed significantly less EPA and DHA than omnivores.…”

Neuropathological Responses to Chronic NMDA in Rats Are Worsened by Dietary n-3 PUFA Deprivation but Are Not Ameliorated by Fish Oil Supplementation

“…The brain DHA concentration did not significantly differ between adequate vs. fish oil supplemented diets and it seems that slight reductions in circulating DHA in humans would not necessarily have pathophysiological consequences. Supporting this suggestion, a 33% lesser blood DHA concentration in vegetarians than in omnivores [46] was not associated with a significant difference in mood, or in general mortality or mortality from any cause [47], [48]. Moreover, 4-month dietary DHA supplementation in preschool children, which increased blood DHA from 1.0% to 3.2% of total fatty acids, did not enhance scores on any of four cognitive tests [49].…”

The Global Influence of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Diet

“…The Adventist Health Studies and several British studies, most recently the Oxford EPIC Study, have been recognized as major Western cohort studies that generally demonstrate vegetarian diet health benefits, such as reduced cardiovascular disease, cancer, and overall mortality rates as well as better mental health (Beezhold et al 2009;Key et al 1999;Tonstad et al 2009). The results from the British studies with regard to cancer and total mortality have been less convincing, although showing somewhat similar results.…”