Trans fats increased danger of depression in six-year diet research

Danger of depression increased with the intake of trans fats during the course of a recently published study. But people in the study consuming a Mediterranean diet were less likely to be depressed. The connection among trans fat and depression could possibly be stronger in the United States where trans fats are much more prevalent in the food supply.

Trans fats trigger depression

Depression was much more likely to occur in people who ate trans fat by 48 percent. A research done at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain explained this. The increase in the danger in depression was documented in people who obtained more than 0.6 percent of their calories from trans fats. To draw their conclusions, scientists tracked more than 12,000 people for 6 years. In the beginning of the study, no participants had depression. This was clear. Everyone getting less trans fat at the beginning of the study had less of a chance of getting depression. However, anyone that had more trans fat had an increased risk.

Trans fats make inflammation take place

Part of the trans fat/depression research had a questionnaire on diet and medical conditions administered at the beginning. It was administered again at the end of the study. It was found the more trans fats consumed, the greater the risk for depression. A Mediterranean diet was good for people. Depression was uncommon in these people. Swelling is common among those with depression. This led the research director to suggest this has a link with depression also. Swelling goes up, which means higher heart disease chances, HDL cholesterol goes down and LDL cholesterol goes up with trans fat. Olive oil a key component of a Mediterranean diet, contains compounds that help reduce inflammation.

Trans fat consumption in the United States

Americans might get a wakeup call from the Spanish study. Milk and cheese was where much of the trans fat came from in the Spanish subjects. The highest amounts averaged 0.4 percent of total calories too. An American diet averages about 2.5 percent of calories from trans fat, in large part from processed foods. When it comes to intake of trans fats and cases of depression, the U.S. leads.

Citations

MSN

health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100269616&GT1=31009

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-26/saturated-or-trans-fat-in-food-may-increase-risk-of-depression-study-says.html

Medical News Today

medicalnewstoday.com/articles/215021.php