Consumption of Omega-3 and Maintenance and Incidence of Depressive Episodes: The ELSA-Brasil Study
Renata da Conceição Silva Chaves,
Odaleia Barbosa Aguiar,
Arlinda B. Moreno,
André R. Brunoni,
Maria del Carmem B. Molina,
Maria Carmen Viana,
Isabela Bensoñor,
Rosane H. Griep,
Maria de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca
Affiliations
Renata da Conceição Silva Chaves
Department of Food and Nutrition, Piquet Carneiro Polyclinic, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20950-000, Brazil
Odaleia Barbosa Aguiar
Department of Applied Nutrition, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20950-000, Brazil
Arlinda B. Moreno
Department of Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods in Health, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
André R. Brunoni
Laboratory of Neurosciences, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-220, Brazil
Maria del Carmem B. Molina
Graduate Studies Program in Collective Health, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória 29075-910, Brazil
Maria Carmen Viana
Department of Social Medicine, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória 29075-910, Brazil
Isabela Bensoñor
Department of Internal Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-070, Brazil
Rosane H. Griep
Laboratory of Education in Environment and Health, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
Maria de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca
Department of Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods in Health, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
Depression affects 264 million persons in the world, accounting for some 4.3% of the global burden of disease. Current studies indicate that the decrease in the consumption of omega-3 food sources is associated with the increasing incidence of depression. The study aims to assess the association between the consumption of omega-3 and the maintenance and incidence of depressive episodes in adults (39–64 years) and elderly adults (>65 years). This was a longitudinal study using data from the baseline and first follow-up wave of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Depressive episodes were obtained with the Clinical Interview Schedule Revised (CIS-R), and food consumption was measured with the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression was used to analyze associations between the consumption of omega-3 and depressive episodes. Fatty acids from the omega-3 family showed a protective effect against the maintenance of depressive episodes. In relation to incidence, the estimates suggest that the higher the consumption of omega-3 acids, the lower the risk of developing depressive episodes, and significant associations were found between the consumption of omega-3 and alpha-linolenic acid. Dietary consumption of omega-3, DHA, EPA, DPA, and alpha linolenic fatty acids may have a protective effect against the maintenance and incidence of depressive episodes.
