The good news for omega-3 fatty acids and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in particular continues to grow. Recently EPA has been linked to a reduced frequency of hot flashed in menopausal women, and now, two separate studies have reported that EPA may be beneficial for reducing depressive symptoms in women.
The first study, conducted by researchers at Laval University, examined the effects of EPA on depressive symptoms in menopausal women. This age-group was chosen as the menopausal transition is often associated with psychological distress and depression. The study included 106 women demonstrating moderate to severe psychological distress (as defined by the Psychological General Well-being Schedule). The women received either 500mg omega-3 fatty acids (350mg EPA and 50mg DHA) or a placebo 3 times daily for 8 weeks. At the end of the study, women who were not experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE) at baseline showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms. However, it should be noted that women with MDE did not show this improvement.
The second study examined the dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and the incidence of depression among 3317 individuals aged 24-42 years. The researchers found that women with the highest intakes of EPA and DHA had about a 30% lower risk of demonstrating chronic depressive symptoms. These results were not found for men.
The findings of these two studies add further support for the role of fatty acids, and especially EPA, in the support of healthy mood balance and the prevention of depressive symptoms and psychological distress in women of all ages.
Lucas M, Asselin G, Merette C, Poulin MJ, Dodin S. Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid for the treatment of psychological distress and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009;89(2):641-51.
Colengelo LA, He K, Whooley MA, Daviglus ML, Liu K. Higher dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in women. Nutrition. Online ahead of print.
For more information see Omega EPA
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