Fish eaters less likely to be depressed, study reveals

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A new study reveals that people who eat a diet rich in fish are less likely to be depressed.

According to a team of Chinese researchers from the Medical College of Qingdao University, men who ate more fish were less likely to be depressed by 20 percent, while women who ate such had a reduced depression risk by 16 percent.

The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, suggests that this may be attributed to the omega-3 fatty acids in the fish.

In their analysis, the researchers looked at 26 studies to determine how the consumption of fish can affect depression. A majority of the studies were conducted in Europe and North America, while a few were conducted in Asia, South America and Oceania.

"Higher fish consumption may be beneficial in the primary prevention of depression," the researchers said, via Live Science. However, they explained that only studies conducted in Europe were found to have an association between high fish consumption and lower depression risk.

As to how high fish consumption lowers the risk of depression, it may be due to the omega-3 fatty acids in fish that could improve the brain membrane structures, neurotransmitters and increase levels of dopamine and serotonin which are chemicals that are associated with depression, the Daily Mail reports. Additionally, fish is nutritionally packed with minerals, vitamins and proteins that are important in keeping the body healthy. The report inferred that fish eaters have great diet habits.

"The association between fish consumption and risk of depression is controversial," said Dr. Dongfeng Zhang, co-author of the study, as reported by the Daily Mail.

"Many studies have investigated the associations between food consumption and depression risk.  Furthermore, a meta-analysis published recently indicated that a healthy dietary pattern, characterised by a high intake of fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, was significantly associated with a reduced risk of depression," Zhang went on.

However, the researcher cautioned that further studies are needed to determine if the effect is to any specific kind of fish.

A certified dietitian-nutritionist, Gina Keatley finds the studies "encouraging."  She tells Yahoo Health that depression affects millions of people around the world and for those who are seeking treatment, medicine side effects can become an issue. She explains that a "dietary solution would be ideal."

Like in most studies, there were others skeptical about the results. 

"It is important not to oversimplify the results as there are lots of different factors in the development of depression," Rachel Boyd, information manager at Mind, told BBC News. "But we really agree that having these fatty acids in your diet can be helpful, and it's something where people can make quite small changes that could have quite a big impact."

She added that there are vegetarians who do not get their source of fatty acids from fish but from other food sources, such as nuts and seeds, as well as supplements.