Authors:
Allen KL; Mori TA; Beilin L; Byrne SM; Hickling S; Oddy WH
Authors notes:
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2012:online
Keywords:
Adolescence, Depression, Eating disorders, Fatty acids, Nutrition
Abstract:
Relatively little is known about the dietary intake and nutritional status of community-based individuals with eating disorders.
This research aimed to: (i) describe the dietary intake of population-based adolescents with an eating disorder and (ii) examine associations between eating disorder symptoms, fatty acid intake and depressive symptoms in adolescents with and without an eating disorder.
Adolescents with an eating disorder (n = 66) reported a significantly lower intake of total fat, saturated fat, omega-6 fatty acid, starch, vitamin A and vitamin E compared to adolescents without an eating disorder (n = 363).
Adolescents with an eating disorder and pronounced depressive symptoms (n = 23) also reported a significantly lower intake of polyunsaturated fat and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid than adolescents with an eating disorder but no marked depression (n = 43).
In the eating disorder sample but not the control sample, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid correlated significantly and negatively with eating disorder symptoms and with depressive symptoms.
Support is provided for a relationship between low omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake and depressive symptoms in adolescents with eating disorders.
Research is needed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of fatty acid supplementation in this high-risk group