Dietary patterns, omega‐3 fatty acids intake from seafood and high anxiety symptoms during pregnancy: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Abstract

IntroductionLittle is known about relationships between dietary patterns, n‐3 fatty acids intake and excessive anxiety during pregnancy.ObjectivesTo examine whether dietary patterns and n‐3 intake from seafood are associated with high levels of anxiety in pregnancy.Methods9,530 pregnant women at 32 wks’ gestation enrolled in ALSPAC. Dietary patterns were established from FFQ using principal component analysis. Total intake of n‐3 fatty acids (g/week) from seafood was estimated. Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Crown‐Crisp Experiential Index (score ≥9 was defined as high anxiety). Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the OR and 95% CI, adjusted by socioeconomic and lifestyle variables.ResultsWomen in the highest tertile of the health conscious (OR 0.77; 0.65–0.93) and the traditional (OR 0.84; 0.73–0.97) pattern scores were less likely to report high anxiety. High anxiety was reported among women in the highest tertile of the vegetarian pattern (OR 1.25; 1.08–1.44) and among those reporting no n‐3 intake (OR 1.53; 1.25–1.87) compared with those with intakes of >;1.5 g/week.ConclusionWomen in the highest tertile of the healthy and the traditional dietary pattern scores were less likely to report high anxiety, while those with high scores on a vegetarian pattern or n‐3 intake <1.5 grams/week, were more likely to report high anxiety symptoms in pregnancy.Grant Funding Source: Division of Intramural Basic and Clinical Research, NIAAA, NIH; CAPES Brazil