Jin-A Kim1, Sim-Yeol Lee1,2

1Department of Home Economics Education, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, Korea


Background: This study sought to investigate the association between n-3 and n-6 fatty acid intakes and depressive symptoms in Korean female adults.
Methods: Subjects comprised 8,204 Korean female adults, aged over 19 years, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014-2018. Subjects were classified according to their Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores into a low depressive symptoms (LDS) group and a high depressive symptoms (HDS) group. Nutrient intake was evaluated using dietary data obtained through a one-day 24-hour recall.
Results: Compared with the LDS group, the HDS group was associated with lower education levels, household incomes, and employment rates. The HDS group had lower intakes of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids than the LDS group. The highest quartile of adjusted total n-3 intakes had a decreased odds ratio of depressive symptoms (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.90) in those aged 65 years over. The prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased in the highest quartile of adjusted arachidonic acid intake (95% CI, 0.33-0.93) in those aged 41-64 years. The n-6:n-3 ratio was not associated with depressive symptoms.
Conclusions: From the results of this study, it was found that the intake of n-3 fatty acids and arachidonic acid were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. These findings can be used to aid the development of dietary guidelines for the improvement of public health.
Korean J Health Promot 2020;20(3):125-134