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Rymut Thesis Final v5.1.pdf (415.69 KB)

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Association of Dietary Intake and RBC Biomarkers of Omega-3 PUFAs with Psychological Wellbeing Among Homeless Youth

Rymut, Susan M
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5632-378X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574789863984722

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Human Ecology: Human Nutrition.
Homeless youth are an underserved, vulnerable population that have limited access to food and are nutrient deficient. Low dietary intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and low biological concentrations of n-3 PUFA have been associated with poor mental health. The goals of this study were to measure typical intakes and status of n-3 PUFA in homeless youth, determine associations between n-3 PUFA dietary intake and biological levels, and to determine if n-3 PUFA dietary intake and status are associated with depression, anxiety, perceived stress, or quality of life in a study sample of homeless youth aged 18-24 years. This cross-sectional observational study used sociodemographic information, dietary intake, measures of psychological wellbeing, and non-fasted venous blood samples from homeless youth who attended a drop-in center in Columbus, Ohio. All data and blood samples were collected as part of a previous study. In the present study n-3 PUFA status was determined using lipid extraction and methylation of red blood cells (RBC) and analyzed through gas chromatography. Descriptive statistics were used to measure participant characteristics, and Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA, and ANCOVA were used to correlate n-3 PUFA intake and status with each other and with psychological wellbeing. A final sample of 114 homeless youths completed the FFQ and provided one venous blood sample. Homeless youths have low dietary intakes of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (43.5±54.4 mg/d) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (14.8±26.1 mg/d), consuming about half as much compared to their housed peers. Using the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II) to quantify depression symptoms, homeless youth with moderate/severe depression symptoms consume lower amounts of DHA (18.8±2.23 vs. 55.3±6.13 mg/d; p=0.013) and DHA+EPA (26.1±27.5 mg/d vs. 71.2±71.5 mg/d; p=0.014) compared to those with minimal depression symptoms. When stratified to include only females, lower intakes of DHA and EPA+DHA dietary intake and status were associated with moderate/severe depression symptoms. Similarly, total n-3 PUFA dietary intake and EPA status was associated with anxiety symptoms in females, but not other associations between anxiety and n-3 PUFA intake or status were found. Perceived stress was not associated with n-3 PUFA dietary intake or status, but a negative trend was observed. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-12, and there were positive significant associations between dietary total n-3 PUFA intake and social function and general health domains. There were no other significant associations between individual or total mental component summary scores (MCS) or physical component summary scores (PCS) and n-3 PUFA intake or status. Mental illness and poor psychological wellbeing are common among homeless youth as well as poor dietary intakes and status of n-3 PUFA. Our findings suggest that poor dietary intakes and low RBC status of DHA and EPA may be associated with psychological wellbeing amongst homeless youth.
Tonya Orchard, PhD (Advisor)
Irene Hatsu, PhD (Advisor)
Rebecca Andridge, PhD (Committee Member)
99 p.
Nutrition; Psychology
homeless youth; omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; omega-3 PUFA dietary intake; omega-3 PUFA RBC; homeless youth depression; homeless youth anxiety; homeless youth stress; homeless youth SF-12; homeless psychological wellbeing

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Citations

  • Rymut, S. M. (2019). Association of Dietary Intake and RBC Biomarkers of Omega-3 PUFAs with Psychological Wellbeing Among Homeless Youth [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574789863984722

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rymut, Susan. Association of Dietary Intake and RBC Biomarkers of Omega-3 PUFAs with Psychological Wellbeing Among Homeless Youth. 2019. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574789863984722.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rymut, Susan. "Association of Dietary Intake and RBC Biomarkers of Omega-3 PUFAs with Psychological Wellbeing Among Homeless Youth." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1574789863984722

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1574789863984722
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