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. 2021 May 31;11:321. doi: 10.1038/s41398-021-01425-4

Table 3.

Cross-sectional associations between plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid measures and odds of mental disorders at 24 years.

Outcome (n with vs. without outcome) Exposure Crude models Adjusted models
Odds ratio 95% CI p Odds ratio 95% CI p
Psychotic disorder (47 vs. 3842) Total n-6 PUFAs 1.15 0.82–1.62 0.420 1.08 0.76–1.55 0.661
Total n-3 PUFAs 0.66 0.41–1.06 0.083 0.71 0.45–1.12 0.141
n-6:n-3 ratio 1.72 1.36–2.17 <0.001 1.54 1.16–2.03 0.003
DHA % total fatty acids 0.55 0.36–0.85 0.007 0.58 0.36–0.93 0.025
Moderate/severe depressive disorder (304 vs. 3662) Total n-6 PUFAs 1.07 0.93–1.23 0.366 0.99 0.85–1.15 0.898
Total n-3 PUFAs 0.83 0.71–0.98 0.026 0.85 0.73–1.00 0.050
n-6:n-3 ratio 1.37 1.20–1.56 <0.001 1.22 1.06–1.41 0.005
DHA % total fatty acids 0.85 0.73–0.98 0.027 0.86 0.73–1.01 0.071
Generalised anxiety disorder (386 vs. 3571) Total n-6 PUFAs 1.03 0.91–1.16 0.692 0.96 0.85–1.09 0.559
Total n-3 PUFAs 0.88 0.77–1.00 0.053 0.88 0.77––1.01 0.064
n-6:n-3 ratio 1.27 1.13–1.42 <0.001 1.17 1.03–1.32 0.017
DHA % total fatty acids 0.90 0.79–1.02 0.085 0.89 0.78–1.02 0.094

BMI body mass index, CI confidence interval, DHA docosahexaenoic acid, n-6 omega-6, n-3 omega-3, PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acid.

PUFA measures were converted to z-scores such that the odds ratios may be interpreted as per standard deviation increase in the PUFA measure at 24 years. Covariates in adjusted models included precise age at attendance at age 24 clinic, sex, BMI at 24 years and average number of cigarettes smoked per day at 24 years.