Ecological and interventional relationships between polyunsaturated fats, major depression and aggression

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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

4125.1: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 12:50 PM

Abstract #162041

Ecological and interventional relationships between polyunsaturated fats, major depression and aggression

Joseph Hibbeln, MD, Section on Nutritional Neurosciences, Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 31 Center Drive 1B58 MSC 2088, Bethesda, MD 20892-2088, (301) 435-4028, jhibbeln@mail.nih.gov

Background: Omega-3 long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), found primarily in fish oil, are essential nutrients for humans and therefore must be obtained through the diet. These lipids are required for the normal functioning of cell membranes, brain tissue and endothelial response, and have been implicated in the prevention and treatment of numerous disorders, including mental illness. As the availability of omega-6 fatty acids, which compete with omega-3 LCFAs for incorporation in cell membranes, in the international food supply has increased, so have homicide rates in 26 countries. Conversely, as seafood consumption increases across various diets, homicide rates decrease. surveyed. In order to calculate healthy intakes of owega-3 fatty acids that meet RDA criteria, the worldwide diversity of dietary intakes of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids influences tissue compositions of omega-3 long chain fatty acids (LCFAs: eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids) were considered. DesignResultsConclusions

Learning Objectives:

Understand the role of dietary fats in increasing risk of inflammatory illnesses;
Understand how excessive intakes of omega-6 fatty acids can lower tissue levels of omega-3 fatty acids and create functional deficiencies;
Understand the role of deficiencies in omega-3 fatty as reversible risk factors for major mental illnesses.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

The Common Ground of Food, Nutrition, and Ecological Health (jointly organized by the Environment and Food & Nutrition Sections)
The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA