Association between Omega Fatty Acid Intake and Suicidality : Sex Differences in the General Korean Population
10.22722/KJPM.2019.27.2.181
- Author:
Yang Im HUR
1
;
Jung Hyun LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
2019;27(2):181-190
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:Epidemiological studies in other countries show that a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) increases the risk of depression or suicidality. However, no studies have investigated the associations of suicidality with omega-3 FAs in Korea. Hence, this cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effects of omega FAs on suicidality in the general South Korean population.
METHODS:The data in this study were sourced from adults (n=215,860) who completed the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI), and the associations between omega FAs and suicidality were analyzed using multivariate logistic regressions.
RESULTS:Our results demonstrated that high omega-3 FA intake was associated with a decreased risk of suicide (OR=0.83, 95% CI : 0.71–0.98) and the high omega-6 to omega-3 FA ratio was associated with an increased risk of suicide (OR=1.25, 95% CI : 1.02–1.54). Additionally, a high intake of omega-3 FAs was associated with a decreased risk of suicide in men, but not in women (OR=0.72, 95% CI : 0.59–0.88).
CONCLUSIONS:Overall, our findings suggest that a lower intake of omega-3 FA is associated with the increased risk of suicidality in the general Korean population, especially in men.
