Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Jul;62(1):1-9.
Hibbeln
JR, Salem N Jr.
Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics and Biochemistry, DICBR, National Institute
of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
Recent studies have both offered and contested the proposition that lowering
plasma cholesterol by diet and medications increases suicide, homicide, and
depression. Significant confounding factors include the quantity and distribution
of dietary n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids that influence
serum lipids and alter the biophysical and biochemical properties of cell membranes.
Epidemiological studies in various countries and in the United
States in the last century suggest that decreased n-3 fatty acid consumption
correlates with increasing rates of depression. This is consistent with a well-established
positive correlation between depression and coronary artery disease. Long-chain
n-3 polyunsaturate deficiency may also contribute to depressive symptoms in
alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, and post-partum depression. We postulate that
adequate long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic
acid, may reduce the development of depression just as n-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids may reduce coronary artery disease.
PMID: 7598049 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]