Lack of Omega-3 = Depression

Reduced levels of omega-3 in mice had consequences on emotional behaviors, French investigators say. The Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research say the imbalanced ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 increased continuously over the course of the 20th century.

The team studied mice fed a permanent diet unstable in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They found omega-3 deficiency disturbed neuronal communication and the neuronal dysfunction was accompanied by depressive behaviors among the malnourished mice.

"Our results can now corroborate clinical and epidemiological studies which have revealed associations between an omega-3/omega-6 imbalance and mood disorders. To determine if the omega-3 deficiency is responsible for these neuropsychiatric disorders additional studies are, of course, required."

The results give the first biological components of an explanation for the observed correlation between omega-3 poor diets -common in the industrialized world- and mood disorders such as depression.

By UPI.com. No credits for picture.