Unsaturated fat intakes and mental health outcomes in young women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

Key Findings

The relationship between n3 fatty acid status and mental health was assessed using a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) Young Cohort Survey. Women who ate more ALA were less likely to have depressive symptoms. In contrast, no significant associations were found between the long chain n3 fats and mental health. As well, increased intakes of n6 and decreased intakes of n9 (oleic acid) were related to a reduced self-reported diagnosed anxiety.

ABSTRACT

To determine if associations exist between a range of unsaturated fatty acid intakes and mental health outcomes. Design: Cross-sectional data analysis of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) Young Cohort Survey 3 that included the validated 74 item Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies FFQ, validated mental health scales and self-report questions on depression and anxiety.  Setting: Australia, 2003. Subjects: A nationally representative sample of young Australian women (25 to 30 years) from ALSWH. The 7635 women with plausible energy intakes were included in the analyses. Results: Adjusted logistic regression analyses found statistically significant associations between higher intakes of alpha linolenic acid and decreased likelihood of depressive symptoms indicated by the ten item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the Short Form Health Survey mental health subscale. Furthermore, higher intakes of n 6 fatty acids and linoleic acid were associated with decreased likelihood of self reported diagnosed anxiety and higher intakes of n 9 fatty acids and oleic acid were associated with increased likelihood of self reported diagnosed anxiety. Conclusions: Increased intakes of alpha linolenic acid were associated with a reduced likelihood of depressive symptoms, increased intakes of n 6 fatty acids and linoleic acid were associated with a reduced likelihood of self reported anxiety, and increased intakes of n 9 fatty acids and oleic acid were associated with an increased likelihood of anxiety. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate associations between unsaturated fatty acids and depression and anxiety. (Authors abstract)