적혈구 오메가-3 지방산과 우울증 위험과의 상관관계

Abstract

Epidemiological studies and clinical trials have suggested that low intake or tissue levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are associated with the increased risk of depression, but some do not support the association. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate hypothesis that n-3 PUFA, particularly Omega-3 Index (sum of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3; DHA) in erythrocyte) was negatively associated with the risk of depression in Koreans. Additionally, we investigated the association between the risk of depression, and other erythrocyte fatty acid composition and dietary intake between subjects with and without depression. Cases (n=71) were consisted of patients diagnosed with Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Korea version (CES-D-K) score ≥25 and finally diagnosed by a psychiatrist according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ). Controls (n=100) were age-and sex-matched to the cases, and both groups excluded if subjects had a chronic disease and were pregnant, breast-feeding, or under the age of 18 and over age 80. Dietary intake was obtained by food frequency questionnaire and erythrocyte fatty acid composition was measure by GC. Multivariate-adjusted regression analysis showed that the risk of depression was negatively (P < 0.05) associated with erythrocyte Omega-3 Index, levels of EPA, and saturated fatty acids (SFA), but positively (P < 0.05) associated with levels of total trans-fatty acids, trans-C18:2n6, total PUFA, total n-6 PUFA, C22:5n6, alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n3; ALA), and docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n3; DPA), after adjusting for age, sex, weight, height, drinking status and marital status. CES-D-K score was also significantly and negatively correlated with Omega-3 Index, and levels of EPA, DHA, SFA, while significantly and positively correlated with levels of total trans-fatty acids, trans-18:2n6, total PUFA, total n-6 PUFA, 22:5n6, ALA and DPA. Only vegetable intake was associated with the reduced risk of depression after adjusting for all confounding factors. In conclusion, high tissue levels of EPA and DHA, and intake of vegetables may decrease the risk of depression in the Korean, but not all n-3 PUFA is associated with the risk of depression.