Verbal Memory Performance in Depressed Children and Adolescents: Associations with EPA but Not DHA and Depression Severity

Emery, Sophie; Häberling, Isabelle; Berger, Gregor; Baumgartner, Noemi; Strumberger, Michael; Albermann, Mona; Nalani, Kristin; Schmeck, Klaus; Erb, Suzanne; Bachmann, Silke; Wöckel, Lars; Müller-Knapp, Ulrich; Contin-Waldvogel, Brigitte; Rhiner, Bruno; Walitza, Susanne; Hersberger, Martin; Drechsler, Renate

doi:10.3390/nu12123630

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Emery, S., Häberling, I., Berger, G., Baumgartner, N., Strumberger, M., Albermann, M., Nalani, K., Schmeck, K., Erb, S., Bachmann, S., Wöckel, L., Müller-Knapp, U., Contin-Waldvogel, B., Rhiner, B., Walitza, S., Hersberger, M., & Drechsler, R. (2020). Verbal Memory Performance in Depressed Children and Adolescents: Associations with EPA but Not DHA and Depression Severity. Nutrients, 12(12), 3630. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123630

Abstract

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been described as positively associated with cognitive functioning. Current meta-analyses have identified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as potentially more effective than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). An especially vulnerable subgroup that might benefit from these beneficial effects are depressed youths. In this study, we examined associations between red blood cell (RBC) DHA and EPA levels and depression severity and verbal memory performance in a sample of 107 moderately (n = 63) and