In a study of Omega-3 fatty acids, researchers Ma and Taylor sought to identify what effect the Fatty Acids have on mood and depression in elderly women. The focus on elderly women was chosen due to a high occurrence of both depression and risk of improper nutrition in those subjects. Researchers emphasized that understanding what nutritional aspects are fostering depression in elderly adults assists in improving the overall quality of life for those elderly individuals. Their hypothesis was that of a positive link between lack of Omega-3 fatty acids and depression in the elderly women test subjects.
             Subjects were chosen from a group volunteers who were not currently living in a nursing home and were women 65 or older. The original volunteer group was given one interview where they took a self-administered diet questionnaire, biochemical assessments, and erythrocyte fatty acids profile. Applicants' physical profile was taken and they were also assessed for depression using MMSE, GDS, ADLs, and IADLs questionnaires. Of the applicants, 33 women participated. Subjects were mostly 65-84 years of age, white, widowed, with moderate education, and living above the poverty level. Ten of the 33 participating women were considered depressed.
             The diet questionnaires of each woman were analyzed and compared. Women who were depressed by researcher's standards were shown to have significantly lower levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in erythrocytes when compared to those women who were not depressed. Researchers report that the lower Omega-3 levels in their study appear to be from long-term lower dietary intake of Omega-3 fatty acids putting subjects at risk for depression.
             The authors are qualified researchers in their fields. Martha L. Taylor, PH.D., R.D., is Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (U.N.C.G.). Bo Ma, M.D. is the Associate Dire...