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Trans fatty acid intake is related to emotional affect in the Adventist Health Study-2
Trans fatty acids (primarily from margarines), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and their inverse associations on positive affect and positive associations with negative affect were hypothesised in this 2016 study. The participants, taken from the Adventist Health Study-2, completed a food frequency questionnaire in 2002-2006 before those identified with cardiovascular disease were excluded to create this present study’s subset of 8,771. These participants completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in 2006-7, and linear regression analysis was performed (controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, education, body mass index, exercise, sleep, sleep squared, Mediterranean diet, total energy intake, and alcohol). The hypothesis was confirmed; increased trans fatty acid intake was linked to more negative affect (p<0.001), while being inversely associated with positive affect (p<0.001). While n-3 PUFAs could not be associated with either positive nor negative affect, the inverse association between the n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio with positive effect suggests that emotional affect can be improved by not only a low trans fat diet but also by the right n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio. [NPID: mood, happiness, well-being, psychological distress, trans fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFAS, cardiovascular disease, affect, trans fat]
Year: 2016
