Too low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet alters communication between cells in the brain region responsible for behavior and emotions and lowers mood, warn scientists from France in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
The authors of the study conducted their research on mice, but it is known from previous studies that the typical Western diet in particular is low in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, so the results of the study will allow to assess the impact of poor nutrition on mood disorders in humans.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are very important to our body, it is known that they can improve memory, reduce the harmful effects of stress, protect against stroke, reduce the risk of bowel cancer and blindness. Rich sources of omega-3s are oily fish (such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring), nuts, olive oil, and linseed oil.
Olivier Manzoni and Sophie LayA, along with colleagues from research institutes in Marseille and Bordeaux, found that mice raised on a low omega-3 diet and born to females reared on the same diets exhibited mood disorders – increased anxiety and depressive behavior.
Research into the brains of these rodents revealed the lack of adequate synaptic plasticity (that is, changes depending on the conditions of connections between neurons) in two brain regions involved in the control of emotional behavior – the so-called nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. The authors of the study also found that deficiencies in signaling through the type 1 cannabinoid receptor were responsible for these disorders.
Although the results of the work apply to mice for the time being, eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids will certainly benefit our health and maybe improve our mood at the same time. (PAP)