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Fish consumption and depressive symptoms in undergraduate students: A cross-sectional analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2015

K. Hamazaki ,
T. Natori ,
S. Kurihara ,
N. Murata ,
Z.-G. Cui ,
M. Kigawa ,
R. Morozumi  and
H. Inadera
K. Hamazaki*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama930-0194, Japan
T. Natori
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama930-0194, Japan
S. Kurihara
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama930-0194, Japan
N. Murata
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama930-0194, Japan
Z.-G. Cui
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama930-0194, Japan
M. Kigawa
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama930-0194, Japan
R. Morozumi
Affiliation:
Faculty of Economics, University of Toyama, Toyama City, Toyama930-8555, Japan
H. Inadera
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama930-0194, Japan
*
⁎Corresponding author. E-mail address:keihama@med.u-toyama.ac.jp (K. Hamazaki).
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Abstract

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that fish consumption may have beneficial effects on mood disorders. However, no study has been reported on this issue in young adults to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fish consumption and depressive symptoms in Japanese undergraduate students.

Methods

The 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms with a cut-off score of 16. A total of 4190 completed questionnaires (from 2124 men and 2066 women) were received for analysis.

Results

Multivariate logistic analysis showed that fish intake was inversely associated with risk of depressive symptoms in undergraduate students. After adjustment for possible confounders, the odds-ratios (95% confidence intervals) for fish intake 1–2 times/month, 1–2 times/week, 3–4 times/week, and almost every day (compared with “almost never”) were 0.78 (0.62–0.99), 0.70 (0.56–0.87), 0.67 (0.53–0.85) and 0.65 (0.46–0.92), respectively. This association tended to be stronger in women than in men.

Conclusions

Frequent fish consumption in undergraduate students seems to moderate depressive symptoms. Further research is warranted to clarify the causality.

Keywords

Fish consumptionDepressive symptomsCross-sectional studyUndergraduate students
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 30 , Issue 8 , November 2015 , pp. 983 - 987
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2020

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Footnotes

Abbreviations: CES-D, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression; CI, confidence interval; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; OR, odds-ratio; PUFAs, polyunsaturated fatty acids.

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