Comparison of Omega-3 Serum Leveles Between Elderly Individuals with Depression in Treatment and Healthy

• Grant number: 11/04091-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Alceu Afonso Jordão Junior
• Grantee: Marina Balieiro Cetrulo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is the psychiatric disorder most prevalent among elderly people. Epidemiological studies indicate an inverse relation between fish consumption (source of omega-3) and the incidence of depression. Such evidence leads to the hypothesis that the lack of polyunsaturated fatty acid omega-3 may have some role in the etiology of the disease. Objective: To analyze the omega-3 serum levels in individuals with depression treated in the Outpatient Geriatric Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, FMRP-USP, and compare with healthy individuals. It´s intended to evaluate the food consumption pattern of fatty acids intake in these patients. Materials and methods: an analytical study will be conducted on a case-control, with 40 individuals diagnosed with depression, and a control group matched for age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Biochemical data will be collected, in a way to be measured total cholesterol, triglycerides and fatty acid analysis, anthropometric data (weight, height, BMI, triceps skinfold, arm circumference and arm muscle circumference) and food consumption data through three 24-hour records. For statistical analysis, SPSS will be used. Regarding the continuous variables, will be applied analysis of a factor variance (ANOVA). The significance value accepted to reject the hypothesis is 5% (p <0.05), with Turkey post-test to assess between which groups are the differences.