Review Article

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Depression: Scientific Evidence and Biological Mechanisms

Table 1

Age-standardized disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates by income (Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update, WHO, Geneva, 2008).

ā€‰WorldLow-income countriesMiddle-income countriesHigh-income countries
ā€‰Disease or injuryDALYs (millions)% of total DALYsDisease or injuryDALYs (millions)% of total DALYsDisease or injuryDALYs (millions)% of total DALYsDisease or injuryDALYs (millions)% of total DALYs

1Lower respiratory infections 94.56.2Lower respiratory infections 76.99.3Unipolar depressive disorders29.05.1Unipolar depressive disorders10.08.2
2Diarrhoeal diseases 72.84.8Diarrhoeal diseases 59.27.2Ischaemic heart disease28.95.0Ischaemic heart disease7.76.3
3Unipolar depressive disorders65.54.3HIV/AIDS42.95.2Cerebrovascular disease27.54.8Cerebrovascular disease4.83.9
4Ischaemic heart disease 62.64.1Malaria32.84.0Road traffic accidents21.43.7Alzheimer and other dementias4.43.6
5HIV/AIDS58.53.8Prematurity and low birth weight32.13.9Lower respiratory infections16.32.8Alcohol use disorders4.23.4
6Cerebrovascular disease46.63.1Neonatal infections31.43.8COPD16.12.8Hearing loss, adult onset4.23.4
7Prematurity and low birth weight44.32.9Birth asphyxia and birth trauma29.83.6HIV/AIDS15.02.6COPD3.73.0
8Birth asphyxia and birth trauma41.72.7Unipolar depressive disorders26.53.2Alcohol use disorders14.92.6Diabetes mellitus3.63.0
9Road traffic accidents41.22.7Ischaemic heart disease 263.1Refractive errors13.72.4Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers3.63.0
10Neonatal infections and otherb40.42.7Tuberculosis22.42.7Diarrhoeal diseases13.12.3Road traffic accidents3.12.6

COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.