Prospective association between trans fatty acid intake and depressive symptoms: Results from the study of women's health across the nation.

BACKGROUND

This prospective investigation examined relations between dietary trans fatty acid intake of women at midlife in baseline and prevalence of depressive symptoms 5 years later.

METHODS

Women enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) had measures of CES-D depression scores 5 years later and trans fatty acid intake at baseline. Logistic regression models were used to study prospective associations between trans fatty acid intake and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

In overall 2376 women, baseline trans fatty acid intake did not predict depressive symptoms (p = 0.139) in model 1 adjusting for total caloric intake. However, after additional adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, education, financial strain, physical activity, BMI, menopausal status, VMS, chronic stress and use of antidepressant in model 2, baseline trans fatty acid intake predicted depressive symptoms 5 years later. This association remained statistically significant when additional controlling for SHBG, testosterone and estradiol in fully adjusted model 3. The fully adjusted OR of depressive symptoms was 1.637 (1.087-2.467) in quartile 4 (the highest) versus quartile 1 (the lowest) of the trans fatty acid intake. Sensitivity analyses performed in women with baseline CES-D score <16 showed that this association remained statistically significant.

LIMITATIONS

Assessment of depression and trans fatty acid intake was based on a self-report scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Trans fatty acid intake is a predictor for depressive symptoms 5 years later in midlife women independent health and psychosocial profiles. This underlines the importance of targeting trans fatty acid in the prevention of major depression in midlife women.