Study Suggests Trans-Fats Increase Depression Risk While Some Other Fats May Lower It

The impact of various fatty acids (particularly trans fats) on cardiovascular health has been well-established, but scientists in Spain are exploring them from another angle: the effect of fatty acids on depression. Researchers followed a group of more than 12,000 people for six years—all initially depression-free. By the end of the study, those who ate the most trans fats showed a depression risk 48 percent higher than those who did not. Their findings also suggest that consumption of olive oil, poly-and monounsaturated fats reduces the risk of depression, though they caution that further study is needed to validate this.