LIPIDS, DEPRESSION AND PHYSICAL DISEASES

There is a growing body of evidence which consistently suggests that m embrane lipid abnormalities occur in major depression. Omega-3 essenti al fatty acids, in particular docosahexaenoic acid (a member of the om ega-3 family), seem to be depleted in depression. Recent prospective s tudies have confirmed that depression is a major predictor of coronary heart disease and hypertension and is associated with the onset and c ourse of non-insulin dependent diabetes. Polyunsaturated fatty acids a re implicated in each of these physical diseases. In view of these fin dings the way depression is perceived and treated may need to be re-ex amined.