Fish Consumption and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake in Relation to Self-Reported Physical and Mental Health Status

Abstract

ISEE-0134 Background and Objective: High fish consumption and omega-3 PUFA intake have various health benefits. Our aim was to study whether fish consumption and omega-3 PUFA intake are associated with self-reported health status. Methods: The Health 2000 Survey (n = 5977) represented the general population and the Fishermen Study (n = 309) a population with high fish consumption. Fish consumption and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid intakes were collected using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Self-reported health status was measured with the EuroQol-5D descriptive system comprising five dimensions of health (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression). Age- and energy-adjusted prevalences and odd ratios (OR) were calculated. Results: The prevalence of current anxiety/depression was 12% in the Health 2000 Survey, and 7.3% in the Fishermen Study. Fish consumption and the omega-3 PUFA intake were approximately 1.5-fold in the Fishermen Study subjects compared with the general population. In the Health 2000 Survey men, the prevalence of anxiety/depression decreased from 14% to 9% across the quartiles of fish consumption (ptrend = 0.02). Similar negative trend from 13% to 10% was seen across the quartiles of EPA (ptrend = 0.06) and DHA intakes (ptrend = 0.03). In the Health 2000 Survey men, the ORs (the highest quartile to the lowest one) for current anxiety/depression were 0.6-fold (95% CI 0.4–0.9) for fish consumption, 0.7-fold (95% CI 0.7–1.0) for EPA and 0.7-fold (95% CI 0.5–1.1) for DHA intakes. For the remaining dimensions of health, no significant trends across the quartiles of fish consumption or omega-3 PUFA intake were detected. In Health 2000 Survey women or in the Fishermen Study participants, there were no clear associations. Conclusion: Higher fish consumption was associated with lower prevalence of current self-reported anxiety/depression in the general population men. The role of fish consumption as part of lifestyle should be taken into account in future studies.