Vegetarians more likely to have better mood

new study published in the June 2010 issue of Nutrition Journal suggests that eating a vegetarian diet excluding fish may reduce risk of depression, anxiety and stress.

The study showed that people who had low levels of fatty acids found in fish and high levels of certain fatty acids found in vegetables were less likely to have depression, anxiety and stress or were more likely to have better mood.

For the study, Beezhold B.L. at Arizona State University and colleagues asked 138 healthy Seventh Day Adventist men and women residing in the Southwest to completeg a food questionnaire, depression anxiety stress scale and profile of mood states questionnaires.

Based on the nutritional information and mood statuses, the researchers tried to establish an association between certain fatty acids and the mood statuses of the subjects.

Vegetarians reported significantly less negative emotion than those who ate whatever they wanted or omnivores, as indicated by both mean total DASS and POMS scores.

Vegetarians also reported they had low intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as well as the omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, but high mean intake of shorter-chain alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid than the omnivores.

The researchers found participants with low intakes of EPA, DHA, and AA and high intakes of ALA and AL had better mood as indicated by the DASS and POMS scores.

Beezhold et al. concluded that "The vegetarian diet profile does not appear to adversely affect mood despite low intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids."

EPA and DAH have been believed to boost brain function or cognitive function, suggesting that they might have a positive impact on the mood. 

But the study suggests that a person does not have to eat fish or fish oil or take omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA to cut the risk of depression, anxiety and stress.

By David Liu