Does Perceived Stress Differ According to n-3 Fatty Acid Consumption in Undergraduate Students? (P18-041-19). (13th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Porter, Caitlin; Karazurna, Nicole; Morrell, Jesse Stabile; Bigornia, Sherman
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 3(2019)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2019-06-13
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzz039.P18-041-19
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Omega-3 ( n -3) fatty acids (FAs) have been shown to have a beneficial effect on stress. As college students experience high levels of stress, our objectives were to quantify the relationship of n -3 FAs and fish consumption with perceived stress (PS) in undergraduate students (age 18–24) at a public New England university. Methods: Data are from the College Health & Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 2012 - 2017 (68% women, age 18.8 years). Complete data were available on 2477 participants. Diet was assessed by three-day food records; n -3 FA intake was expressed as % of total energy and categorized by quartile. Participants self-reported intake of fish as servings per week over the past 30 days. Fish intake was categorized as <2 or ≥2 servings/week. PS was assessed via 10-item, online PS Scale questionnaire (PSS-10). Possible scores range from 0–40, with higher scores indicating more stress (mean 15.8 ± 6.7). Mean differences between n -3 FA intake and PS were analyzed using ANCOVA. Confounders included sex; BMI; academic year; semester; physical activity level; 1st generation student; hours of sleep; presence of disability; current smoker; total energy; and n -6 FAs, sugar, vegetable, sodium, and alcohol intake. Results: Mean intake of n -3 FA was 0.44 ± 0.21% and 38% consumed ≥ 2 servings of fish/week. Mean PSS-10 by n -3 FA quartile was 15.5 ± 0.3; 15.9 ± 0.3; 16.0 ± 0.3; 15.0 ± 0.3. No significant differences were observed in the sex and energy adjusted model. There was a trend towards significance between Q3 and Q4 ( P = 0.08) in the fully adjusted model. In addition, the PSS-10 score was not significantly different between those consuming ≥2 vs <2 servings of fish/week in minimally or fully-adjusted models. Excluding those reporting fish oil supplement use (1.8%) did not alter our results. Conclusions: We observed null associations of n -3 FA and fish intake with PSS-10 score among college students. Longitudinal studies in this population are needed to clarify the long-term associations. Funding Sources: The New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738.