Associations between dietary oleic acid and linoleic acid and depressive symptoms in perimenopausal women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the association of dietary intake of oleic and linoleic acids (OA and LA, respectively) with depressive symptoms in perimenopausal women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Linear and logistic regressions and restricted cubic spline models were performed to examine the association of intake of OA and LA with depression.

Results: We included 2793 women 42 to 52 y of age in the present study. Intake of the two acids was positively associated with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scores in unadjusted and age-, race/ethnicity-, total family income- and education-adjusted linear regression model. The fully adjusted regression coefficients were β = 0.089 and β = 0.145 for oleic and linoleic acid intake, respectively. OA and LA intake was positively associated with depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥16) in unadjusted and age-, race/ethnicity-, total family income- and education-adjusted logistic regression model. The fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of depressive symptoms were 1.994 (1.298-3.063) and 1.592 (1.047-2.421) for the highest versus lowest quartile of intake of OA and LA, respectively.

Conclusion: Intake of OA and LA may be positively associated with depressive symptoms in perimenopausal women.

Keywords: Cross-sectional study; Depressive symptoms; Linoleic acid; Oleic acid.