Trans fat may cause depression

The following is from Mind Your Body of the Straits Times dated 3 Feb 2011, Thu
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Trans fat may cause depression

Think of eclairs bulging with custard cream, a huge juicy hamburger, fresh frosted doughnuts or succulent fried chicken and you can think only happy thoughts.

However, scientists reported last week that eating food containing trans fats and saturated fats can contribute to depression. Unfortunately, all of the above foods contain these fats.

Researchers in Spain followed 12,059 people over six years, analysing their diets, lifestyles and medical problems. The people who ate the most trans fats, which are commonly found in pastries and fast food, had a 48 per cent increased risk of depression compared to people who did not eat trans fats.

The study was reported in the journal PLoS One.

People who ate a lot of polyunsaturated fats - a healthier type of fat that is found in olive oil, for example - had a lower risk of depression.

The study was conducted on a population of people that, traditionally, does not consume a diet that is high in trans fats. Nevertheless, the connection between a higher trans-fat intake and depression was still noticeable.

Many people with heart disease also have depression, said the researchers, who were from the universities of Navarra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It could be that trans fats contribute to both disorders through a similar mechanism.

Bad fat increases inflammation in the body. In the heart, it contributes to the build-up of plaque that can cause heart disease. In the brain, substances secreted by inflammation may interfere with neurotransmitters that affect mood.

Los Angeles Times