Fish the anti-depression dish

By STAFF REPORTERS

Eating more fish may help pull New Zealanders, the sufferers of one of the highest rates of major depression in the world, out of their funk, according to new research by dieticians.

Some foods may be an effective antidote for depression and other psychiatric illness, says a Crop and Food Research scientist, Dr Karen Silvers.

New Zealand has one of the world's lowest levels of per capita fish consumption.

"Our research has shown that there is a significant relationship between fish consumption and the self-reported mental health of New Zealanders," said Dr Silvers, who is speaking this week at the Dietetic Association's annual conference in Christchurch.

Dr Silvers will present information on the mechanisms thought to be involved in improving mood among fish consumers in New Zealand.

A senior lecturer in psychiatry at the Christchurch School of Medicine, Dr Richard Porter, will discuss the effects of dieting on mood.

"There have been various studies of either low-tryptophan diets or tryptophan supplementation in psychiatric illness," he said. There was evidence that tryptophan, an essential amino acid, may be a useful anti-depressant.

Dr Porter will present information on the effect of tryptophan-depleted diets on mood, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.