A new study suggests that eating more fish can lower one's risk of depression by 17 percent.
Fang Li, study lead author from Qingdao University in Shandong, China, and his colleagues reviewed 26 studies, published between 2001 and 2014, involving 150,278 participants to determine a link between fish consumption and depression.
The analysis showed those who ate the most fish have a 17 percent lower risk of depression compared to those who ate the least amount of fish.
"Studies we reviewed indicated that high fish consumption can reduce the incidence of depression, which may indicate a potential causal relationship between fish consumption and depression," Li said to HealthDay News.
The researchers said that further study is needed to determine how much fish consumption lowers depression. One possible explanation they have is that the omega-three fatty acids present in fish are affecting the activity of dopamine and serotonin - chemicals in the brain that affects our emotions, movements and sensations of pleasure and pain. Another theory that they have is that people who regularly eat fish have a generally healthy diet which makes them mentally healthy.
"High fish consumption may also be related to a healthier diet and better nutritional status, which could contribute to the lower risk of depression," Li told Live Science.
An expert cautioned that people should not generalize the findings of the study because there are other factors that trigger depression aside from lack of fish in the diet. Depression can be caused by thyroid disease, poor sleeping habits, Facebook overload, environment and some medications.
"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 that recently published a guide, Food and Mood, told BBC. She is not involved in the study.
"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."
The study was published in the Sept. 10 issue of the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
