The Mediatory Roles of Erythrocytes Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Relationship Between Dietary Patterns and Depression

The aim of the study was to examine the association between depression and dietary patterns via the intermediary role of erythrocytes polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Materials and Methods: In this individually matched case-control observational study,we extracted dietary patterns for 331 persons using factor analysis and assessed erythrocyte PUFAs, using a GC-Mass spectrometry analytical method for 84 people and measured the level of n-3 and n-6 PUFA and some other fatty acids. We diagnosed depression usingthe criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and extracted dietary patterns using a valid and reliable semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results: We observed healthy dietary pattern could relate to the risk of depression (P = 0.01& until minimum OR=0.31, 95%CI: (0.14 - 0.68) by the increase of ratio n-3 /n-6 PUFA (p≤0.03) and decrease of ratio n-6 /n-3 PUFA (p ≤ 0.005). In addition, the unhealthy dietary pattern could associate with the risk of depression (P = 0.02 & until maximum OR=2.7, 95%CI: (1.25-5.9) via the decreasing of ratio n-3/n-6 PUFA (p≤0.03) and increasing of ratio n-6 /n-3 PUFA (p≤0.001). Principal. Conclusion: Based on our results, the type of dietary pattern via changing in n-3 and n-6 PUFA, and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 as the mediator variables, relates to the risk of depression. Of course, further studies in this context are necessary