The influence of the polyunsaturated fatty acids on body weight and anxiolytic-like behavior in female rats.

Some studies have showed the benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as a complement in weight loss diets, even though the results are hardly conclusive. Additionally, anxiety is another relevant factor that influences not only the appetite but the locomotion of the animals as well. This study evaluated the effect of a diet enriched with PUFAs in relation to body weight in an animal model of anxiety (the elevated plus maze).

Effect of fish oil and coconut fat supplementation on depressive-type behavior and corticosterone levels of prenatally stressed male rats.

Prenatal stress (PNS) during critical periods of brain development has been associated with numerous behavioral and/or mood disorders in later life. These outcomes may result from changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which, in turn, can be modulated by environmental factors, such as nutritional status. In this study, the adult male offspring of dams exposed to restraint stress during the last semester of pregnancy and fed different diets were evaluated for depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test and for the corticosterone response to the test.

A survey on anxious and depressive complaints of Brazilian women.

Background: Affective disorders and symptoms are very prominent among women. However specific complaints and symptoms may vary in different cultures.

Methods: A survey on the most common complaints from Brazilian women, identified as anxious or depressive symptoms, was performed with a focus group of 6 psychiatrists.