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The role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of the common mental disorders
Abstract/Journal of Affective Disorders 122 (2010) S9–S31
systems underlying synaptic plasticity. In turn, the curry spice curcumin, which possesses a long history as medicinal drug in India, can regulate cell energy metabolism and synaptic plasticity, and can complement the action of omega-3 fatty acids on learning and memory. Exercise is an excellent therapy to reduce mood disorders and maintain cognitive function across several conditions and ages. I will discuss how exercise can interact with dietary factors and benefit brain function and plasticity. According to our research, exercise has the capacity to counteract the action of poor diets, enhance the capacity of the omega3 fatty acid DHA to support plasma membranes and synaptic plasticity, and enhance the power of curcumin on managing cellular energy metabolism and synaptic function. We believe that diet and exercise management can increase resilience of the brain to insults, and has long-term benefits for optimal brain operations and cognitive function. In addition, based on the outstanding safety profiles of diet and exercise interventions, information derived from animal studies can be readily translatable into human treatment. (Supported by NIH awards to FGP). Keywords: Diet; Cognition; Synaptic plasticity; Metabolism
doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.01.033
S5.2 The role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of the common mental disorders F.N. Jacka1, L.J. Williams⁎,1, J.A. Pasco1, A. Mykletun2, M. Berk1
S17
Keywords: Fatty acids; Nutrition; Depression; Anxiety doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.01.034
S5.3 The role of nutritional deficiency states in depression R. Stewart⁎,1, J.M. Kim2, V. Hirani3 1
Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, UK Chonnam National University Medical School, South Korea 3 University College, UK 2
Neuropsychiatric effects of severe nutritional deficiency states have been well described but the role of relative deficiencies within what are considered normal ranges are less well understood. This talk will highlight findings from two studies: a prospective community study of older people in South Korea, and an analysis of data from older participants in the 2005 Health Survey for England. The first investigated the associations of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels with prevalent and incident depression and co-occurring changes in these levels with incident depression. Associations were found between incident depression both for levels and changes in all three factors in the directions anticipated (lower folate and B12, higher homocysteine). The second investigated associations between vitamin D deficiency and depression independent of season and general health status, although only for the most severe clinical deficiency state (present in approximately 10% of the sample). Potential underlying mechanisms for these associations will be discussed.
1
University of Melbourne, Australia University of Bergen, Norway
2
Linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) are essential longchain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). They are utilised endogenously to create the omega-6 PUFAs, arachidonic acid (AA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and the n-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) respectively. These essential fatty acids, particularly DHA, are the predominant structural fatty acid in the grey matter of the brain, and are concentrated in synaptic neuronal membranes. This series of fatty acids is termed essential as they cannot be manufactured endogenously, and must be consumed in the diet. Dietary sources of long-chain n-3 PUFAs include plants, fish and red meat. Fish and red meat are the major sources of EPA and DHA, whereas ALA is largely derived from plant foods such as nuts, seeds, vegetables, legumes, grains and canola oil. In western diets over the last century, the intake of omega-6 PUFAs has markedly increased, while that of n-3 has decreased. Several lines of both observational and experimental evidence indicate that a relationship exists between n-3 PUFA insufficiency and depression. In this presentation, we will review the evidence from clinical studies examining the associations between levels of n-3 PUFAs in serum and tissue and the major psychiatric disorders, as well as the evidence from recent intervention studies utilising n3 PUFAs in the prevention and treatment of psychiatric illnesses. We will also present novel data examining the relationships between the dietary consumption of these fatty acids and the common mental disorders in randomly selected men and women from the Australian population, and will discuss mechanisms of association and interaction, the limitations and obstacles in this field of research, and recommendations for future research in this area.
Keywords: Folate; Vitamin B12; Homocysteine; Vitamin D; Depression doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.01.035
S5.4 Diet as a modifiable risk factor for the common mental disorders: Evidence and mechanisms F.N. Jacka⁎,1, J.A. Pasco1, A. Mykletun2, L.J. Williams1, M. Berk1 1
University of Melbourne, Australia University of Bergen, Norway
2
The impact of habitual diet quality on the common, chronic, non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, is well described. Depression and anxiety are also highly prevalent, chronic illnesses, and while it is apparent that diet and nutrition impact on the biological processes underpinning depression, in particular, the role of habitual diet quality in these disorders has not been investigated until recently. In this presentation, we will report on recent data from three large epidemiological studies that have examined the association between habitual diet quality and the common mental disorders. These population-based studies comprise 1) randomly selected young adolescents from across Australia (n> 7000); and 2) randomly selected adults from both Australia (n> 1000); and 3) Norway (n> 6000). In
systems underlying synaptic plasticity. In turn, the curry spice curcumin, which possesses a long history as medicinal drug in India, can regulate cell energy metabolism and synaptic plasticity, and can complement the action of omega-3 fatty acids on learning and memory. Exercise is an excellent therapy to reduce mood disorders and maintain cognitive function across several conditions and ages. I will discuss how exercise can interact with dietary factors and benefit brain function and plasticity. According to our research, exercise has the capacity to counteract the action of poor diets, enhance the capacity of the omega3 fatty acid DHA to support plasma membranes and synaptic plasticity, and enhance the power of curcumin on managing cellular energy metabolism and synaptic function. We believe that diet and exercise management can increase resilience of the brain to insults, and has long-term benefits for optimal brain operations and cognitive function. In addition, based on the outstanding safety profiles of diet and exercise interventions, information derived from animal studies can be readily translatable into human treatment. (Supported by NIH awards to FGP). Keywords: Diet; Cognition; Synaptic plasticity; Metabolism
doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.01.033
S5.2 The role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of the common mental disorders F.N. Jacka1, L.J. Williams⁎,1, J.A. Pasco1, A. Mykletun2, M. Berk1
S17
Keywords: Fatty acids; Nutrition; Depression; Anxiety doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.01.034
S5.3 The role of nutritional deficiency states in depression R. Stewart⁎,1, J.M. Kim2, V. Hirani3 1
Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, UK Chonnam National University Medical School, South Korea 3 University College, UK 2
Neuropsychiatric effects of severe nutritional deficiency states have been well described but the role of relative deficiencies within what are considered normal ranges are less well understood. This talk will highlight findings from two studies: a prospective community study of older people in South Korea, and an analysis of data from older participants in the 2005 Health Survey for England. The first investigated the associations of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels with prevalent and incident depression and co-occurring changes in these levels with incident depression. Associations were found between incident depression both for levels and changes in all three factors in the directions anticipated (lower folate and B12, higher homocysteine). The second investigated associations between vitamin D deficiency and depression independent of season and general health status, although only for the most severe clinical deficiency state (present in approximately 10% of the sample). Potential underlying mechanisms for these associations will be discussed.
1
University of Melbourne, Australia University of Bergen, Norway
2
Linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) are essential longchain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). They are utilised endogenously to create the omega-6 PUFAs, arachidonic acid (AA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and the n-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) respectively. These essential fatty acids, particularly DHA, are the predominant structural fatty acid in the grey matter of the brain, and are concentrated in synaptic neuronal membranes. This series of fatty acids is termed essential as they cannot be manufactured endogenously, and must be consumed in the diet. Dietary sources of long-chain n-3 PUFAs include plants, fish and red meat. Fish and red meat are the major sources of EPA and DHA, whereas ALA is largely derived from plant foods such as nuts, seeds, vegetables, legumes, grains and canola oil. In western diets over the last century, the intake of omega-6 PUFAs has markedly increased, while that of n-3 has decreased. Several lines of both observational and experimental evidence indicate that a relationship exists between n-3 PUFA insufficiency and depression. In this presentation, we will review the evidence from clinical studies examining the associations between levels of n-3 PUFAs in serum and tissue and the major psychiatric disorders, as well as the evidence from recent intervention studies utilising n3 PUFAs in the prevention and treatment of psychiatric illnesses. We will also present novel data examining the relationships between the dietary consumption of these fatty acids and the common mental disorders in randomly selected men and women from the Australian population, and will discuss mechanisms of association and interaction, the limitations and obstacles in this field of research, and recommendations for future research in this area.
Keywords: Folate; Vitamin B12; Homocysteine; Vitamin D; Depression doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.01.035
S5.4 Diet as a modifiable risk factor for the common mental disorders: Evidence and mechanisms F.N. Jacka⁎,1, J.A. Pasco1, A. Mykletun2, L.J. Williams1, M. Berk1 1
University of Melbourne, Australia University of Bergen, Norway
2
The impact of habitual diet quality on the common, chronic, non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, is well described. Depression and anxiety are also highly prevalent, chronic illnesses, and while it is apparent that diet and nutrition impact on the biological processes underpinning depression, in particular, the role of habitual diet quality in these disorders has not been investigated until recently. In this presentation, we will report on recent data from three large epidemiological studies that have examined the association between habitual diet quality and the common mental disorders. These population-based studies comprise 1) randomly selected young adolescents from across Australia (n> 7000); and 2) randomly selected adults from both Australia (n> 1000); and 3) Norway (n> 6000). In