Hostname: page-component-5db58dd55d-d6ndz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-06-06T10:15:42.130Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Alterations in mood after changing to a low-fat diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Anita S. Wells ,
Nicholas W. Read ,
Jonathan D. E. Laugharne  and
N. S. Ahluwalia
Anita S. Wells*
Affiliation:
Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
Nicholas W. Read
Affiliation:
Centre for Human Nutrition, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
Jonathan D. E. Laugharne
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
N. S. Ahluwalia
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
*
*Corresponding author:Ms A.S. Wells, fax + 44 (0)114 2610112; email a.s.wells@sheffield.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

The effects on mood of reducing dietary fat while keeping the energy constant were examined in ten male and ten female healthy volunteers aged between 20 and 37 years. Each volunteer consumed a diet containing 41% energy as fat for 1 month. For the second month half of the subjects changed to a low-fat diet (25% energy from fat) and the remainder continued to eat the diet containing 41% energy from fat. Changes in mood and blood lipid concentrations were assessed before, during and at the end of the study. Profile of mood states (POMS) ratings of anger–hostility significantly increased in the intervention group after 1 month on the low-fat diet, while during the same period there was a slight decline in anger–hostility in the control subjects (group F 6.72; df 1,14; P = 0.021). Tension–anxiety ratings declined in the control group consuming the higher fat diet but did not change in the group consuming the low-fat diet (group F 6.34; df 1,14; P = 0.025). There was a decline in fasting concentrations of HDL-cholesterol after the low-fat diet and a small increase in subjects consuming the medium-fat diet (group F 4.96; df 1,12; P = 0.046), but no significant changes in concentrations of total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol or triacylglycerol were observed. The results suggest that a change in dietary fat content from 41 to 25% energy may have adverse effects on mood. The alterations in mood appear to be unrelated to changes in fasting plasma cholesterol concentrations.

Keywords

MoodFat intakeAngerTensionDepression

Information

Type
Human and Clinical Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 79 , Issue 1 , January 1998 , pp. 23 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1998

References

Beck, AT, Ward, CH, Mendelson, M, Mock, J & Erbaugh, J (1981) An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry 4, 561–571.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, SL, Salive, ME, Harris, TB, Simonsick, EM & Guralnik, JM (1994) Low cholesterol concentrations and severe depressive symptoms in elderly people. British Medical Journal 308, 1328–1332.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carmody, TP, Istovan, J, Matarazzo, JD, Connor, S & Connor, WE (1986) Applications of social learning theory in the promotion of heart-healthy diets, the Family Heart Study dietary intervention model. Health Education Research 1, 13–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coccaro, EF, Siever, LJ, Klar, HM, Maurer, G, Cochrane, K, Cooper, TB, Mohs, RC & Davis, KL (1989) Serotonergic studies in patients with affective and personality disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry 46, 587–599.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cook, WW & Medley, DM (1954) Proposed hostility and pharisaic-virtue scales for the MMPI. Journal of Applied Psychology 38, 414–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coulston, AM, Liu, GC & Reaven, GM (1983) Plasma glucose, insulin and lipid responses to high-carbohydrate low-fat diets in normal humans. Metabolism 32, 52–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Health (1991) Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 41. London: H. M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1994) Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 46. London: H. M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Department of Health (1984) Diet and Cardiovascular Disease. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 28. London: H. M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Fara, JW, Rubinstein, EH & Sonnenschein, RR (1969) Visceral and behavioural responses to intraduodenal fat. Science 166, 110–111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
French, SJ, Murray, B, Rumsey, RDE, Fadzlin, R & Read, NW (1995) Adaptation to high-fat diets: effects on eating behaviour and plasma cholecystokinin. British Journal of Nutrition 73, 179–189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goldberg, D & Williams, P (1988) A User's Guide to the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor: NFER-Nelson.Google Scholar
Gregory, J, Foster, K, Tyler, H & Wiseman, M (1990) The Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults. London: H. M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Grundy, SM (1986) Comparison of monounsaturated fatty acids and carbohydrates for lowering plasma cholesterol. The New England Journal of Medicine 314, 745–748.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halbreich, U, Endicott, J & Schacht, S (1982) Premenstrual syndromes, a new instrument for their assessment. Journal of Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment 4, 161–164.Google Scholar
Kaplan, JR, Fontenot, MB, Manuck, SB & Muldoon, MF (1996) Influence of dietary lipids on agonistic and affiliative behaviour in Macaca fascicularis. American Journal of Primatology 38, 333–347.3.0.CO;2-#>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kaplan, JR, Manuck, SB & Shively, C (1991) The effects of fat and cholesterol on social behaviour in monkeys. Psychosomatic Medicine 53, 634–642.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kjekshus, J & Pedersen, TR (1995) Reducing the risk of coronary events: evidence from the Scandinavian simvastatin survival study (4S). American Journal of Cardiology 76, 64C–68C.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindberg, G, Rastam, L, Gullberg, B & Eklund, GA (1992) Low serum cholesterol concentration and short term mortality from injuries in men and women. British Medical Journal 35, 227–279.Google Scholar
McNair, PM, Lorr, M & Dropplemen, LF (1971) Profile of Mood States Manual. San Diego, CA: Education and Industrial Testing Service.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1994) The Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults: Further Analysis. London: H. M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Montgomery, SA & Asberg, M (1979) A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. British Journal of Psychiatry 134, 382–389.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morgan, RE, Palinkas, LA, Barrett-Connor, EL & Wingard, DL (1993) Plasma cholesterol and depressive symptoms in older men. Lancet 341, 75–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moss, HB, Yao, JK & Panzak, GL (1990) Serotonergic responsivity and behavioural dimensions in antisocial personality disorder with substance abuse. Biological Psychiatry 28, 325–338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Muldoon, MF, Kaplan, JR, Manuck, SB & Mann, JJ (1992) Effects of a low-fat diet on brain serotonergic responsivity in cynomolgus monkeys. Biological Psychiatry 31, 739–742.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Muldoon, MF, Manuck, SB & Matthews, KA (1990) Lowering cholesterol concentrations and mortality: a quantitative review of primary prevention trials. British Medical Journal 301, 309–314.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Neaton, JD, Blackburn, H, Jacobs, D, Kuller, L, Lee, D-J, Sherwin, R, Shih, J, Stamler, J & Wentworth, D (1992) Serum cholesterol level and mortality findings for men screened in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Archives of Internal Medicine 152, 1490–1500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nelson, GJ, Schmidt, PC & Kelley, DS (1995) Low-fat diets do not lower plasma cholesterol levels in healthy men compared to high-fat diets with similar fatty acid composition at constant caloric intake. Lipids 30, 969–976.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sacks, FM, Pfeffer, MA, Moye, LA, Rouleau, JL, Rutherford, JD, Cole, TG, Brown, L, Warnica, JW, Arnold, JMO, Wun, CC, Davis, BR & Braunwald, E (1996) The effect of pravastatin on coronary events after myocardial infarction in patients with average cholesterol levels. New England Journal of Medicine 335, 1001–1009.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shepherd, J, Cobbe, S, Ford, I, Isles,, CG, Lorimer, AR, Macfarlane, PW, McKillop, JH & Packard, CJ (1995) Prevention of coronary heart disease with pravastatin in men with hypercholesterolemia. New England Journal of Medicine 333, 1301–1307.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, A, Kendrick, A, Maben, A & Salmon, J (1994 a) Effects of breakfast and caffeine on cognitive performance, mood and cardiovascular functioning. Appetite 22, 39–55.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, A, Kendrick, A, Maben, A & Salmon, J (1994 b) Effects of fat content, weight, and acceptability of the meal on postlunch changes in mood, performance and cardiovascular function. Physiology and Behavior 55, 417–422.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, GP, Gibbs, J & Young, RC (1974) Cholecystokinin and intestinal satiety in the rat. Federation Proceedings 35, 1146–1149.Google Scholar
Stallone, D, NicolaidisS, S, & Gibbs, J (1989) Cholecystokinin-induced anorexia depends on serotoninergic function. American Journal of Physiology 256, R1138–R1141.Google ScholarPubMed
Wardle, J, Armitage, J, Collins, R, Wallendszuz, K, Keech, A & Lawson, A (1996) Randomised placebo controlled trial of effect on mood of lowering cholesterol concentration. British Medical Journal 313, 75–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weidner, G, Connor, SL, Hollis, JF & Connor,, WE (1992) Improvements in hostility and depression in relation to dietary change and cholesterol lowering. Annals of Internal Medicine 117, 820–823.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wells, AS & Read, NW (1996) Influences of fat, energy and time of day on mood and performance. Physiology and Behavior 59, 1069–1076.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yarnell, JWG, Fehily, AM, Milbank, JE, Sweetnam, PM & Walker, CL (1983) A short questionnaire for use in epidemiological surveys: comparison with weighed dietary records. Human Nutrition: Applied Nutrition 37A, 103–112.Google Scholar