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PubMed2026

Self-Report Health Screening Tools in Female Athletes: A Systematic Review of Domain Coverage, Validation, and Use Across Participation Levels.

BACKGROUND: Female athlete health encompasses multiple interconnected domains; however, the self-report screening tools used to assess these domains have not been comprehensively synthesised. OBJECTIVE: To systematically identify self-report health screening tools used to assess female athlete health, map domain coverage, determine validation reporting, and describe application across participation levels. METHODS: This systematic review was pre-registered with PROSPERO ( CRD420251056910 ) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Four databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science) were searched from inception to January 2026 using female health and screening-related terms. Methodological quality was appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute and National Institutes of Health tools, and findings were synthesised descriptively. Eligible, peer-reviewed studies reported the use, development or validation of self-report health screening tools assessing one or more domains relevant to female health applied in female athlete populations, spanning recreational through elite participation levels. All sports and activities were included. The search was restricted to English language with no date limits. RESULTS: In total, 360 studies (1990-2026) representing 134,506 female participants spanning recreational to elite sport and 273 screening tools were included. Mental health (n = 77, 34.1%), disordered eating (n = 33, 14.6%) and body image (n = 30, 13.3%) predominated. Domains related to female health, including menstrual health, pelvic floor health, pregnancy/postpartum and breast health were comparatively underrepresented. Most studies reported tools were used for risk identification (n = 323, 80.3%). Validation reporting was inconsistent, with half (n = 180, 50%) reporting use of at least one validated tool. Tool use was concentrated in professional and elite sport, with limited inclusion of recreational, masters and disability athlete cohorts. Health literacy constructs were explicitly assessed in 12.5% of studies (n = 45). CONCLUSIONS: Health screening in female athlete populations remains fragmented and uneven in domain coverage, with inconsistent validation reporting. Development of integrated, multi-domain and contextually inclusive screening frameworks is warranted.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2026

Deimplementation of inappropriate feeding practices in early care and education: a Hybrid Type 3 cluster-randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The science of deimplementation-reducing harmful or ineffective practices-has focused almost exclusively on clinical prescribing, with no studies conducted in community or educational settings. Early care and education (ECE) settings offer a strategic venue for shaping eating behaviors, with children consuming up to 500 meals annually in these environments. However, ECE educators routinely use feeding practices that undermine self-regulation, including pressuring children to eat, rushing mealtimes, and offering food as reward. These practices contribute to food aversions, diminished self-regulation, and obesity risk. METHODS: We will conduct a Hybrid Type 3 cluster-randomized trial evaluating a co-designed deimplementation strategy package (WISE Words) across 88 ECE sites in Arkansas and Louisiana. Sites will be randomized 1:1 to WISE Words or usual practice, with usual practice sites receiving the intervention after two years (waitlist design). WISE Words includes six strategies: dynamic training using improvisation methods, peer learning collaboratives with goal setting, external facilitation, audit and feedback, environmental reminders, and tailored educational materials. The primary outcome is de-adoption of inappropriate feeding practices measured via direct mealtime observation (Table Talk). Secondary outcomes include adoption of evidence-based practices, acceptability, appropriateness, and sustainability at 12- and 24-months post-intervention. Child outcomes include Body Mass Index, skin carotenoid levels (Veggie Meter) willingness to try new foods (observed) and food neophobia (teacher and caregiver report). An explanatory sequential mixed methods design will test mechanisms of change derived from the Implementation Trust Building Theory of Change examining whether trust mediates strategy effects on outcomes. DISCUSSION: This trial extends deimplementation science into community settings by targeting culturally embedded behavioral practices rather than clinical prescribing behaviors. Results will inform approaches to shifting entrenched practices in ECE and similar settings while testing trust as a deimplementation mechanism. Sustainability assessments will address a notable gap, as few studies have examined whether deimplementation effects persist. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT07101321, July 20, 2025.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

An expanded breakfast buffet increases daily energy and protein intakes in hospitalised patients: A prospective crossover quality improvement study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inadequate dietary intake remains common during hospitalisation. Ordinary hospital meals are central to nutritional intake, but their contribution depends on what is offered and what patients are able and willing to eat. We evaluated whether a preference-informed, limited expansion of the hospital breakfast buffet could increase total daily energy and protein intakes. METHODS: This prospectively structured, ward-based crossover quality-improvement study was conducted in seven inpatient wards at a tertiary university hospital. Each ward was observed for four consecutive days and randomly allocated to begin with standard or expanded breakfast, after which conditions alternated daily. The expanded buffet consisted of standard breakfast supplemented with familiar energy- and protein-rich foods selected from previous patient-choice data. Twenty-four-hour intake was registered using component-level weighed food records during the day and nursing registration overnight. Primary outcomes were total daily energy and protein intakes. Linear mixed-effects models adjusted for observation day and ward-level starting sequence and accounted for repeated patient observations and ward-level clustering. Analyses used data from patients who consumed breakfast and contributed analysable observations under both breakfast conditions. RESULTS: The primary crossover population included 71 patients contributing 188 analysable patient-days. Compared with standard breakfast, the expanded breakfast increased total daily energy intake by +198 kcal/day (95% CI 44 to 352) and protein intake by +6.8 g/day (95% CI 1.0 to 12.5), without a statistically significant increase in total food weight. Daily energy and protein adequacy increased by +8.7 and + 6.8 percentage points, respectively. The increase was driven mainly by breakfast intake, with no measurable reduction in non-breakfast intake. CONCLUSIONS: A limited expansion of the ordinary hospital breakfast buffet increased total daily energy and protein intakes in the primary crossover population of hospitalised adults who consumed breakfast. This increase occurred without a statistically significant increase in total food weight or a measurable reduction in non-breakfast intake. Small, preference-informed additions of familiar energy- and protein-rich foods at breakfast may improve daily intake by increasing the nutrient yield of foods patients are able or willing to eat.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Impaired adaptation to smoke-derived phenolic compounds in Listeria monocytogenes CC204 from smoked salmon and trout.

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen in ready-to-eat smoked fish products. This study evaluated whether clonal complex affiliation contributes to variability in growth responses to stresses representative of smoked salmon and trout processing. Ten strains were studied, including strains from CC121, CC26 and CC204, the three major clonal complexes reported in the French smoked salmon and trout sectors, together with the EGDe reference strain. Strains were exposed to salt, cold, smoke-derived phenolic compounds and combined stress conditions. Growth responses were compared with whole-genome-based phylogeny, and the impaired phenotype observed under phenolic exposure was further investigated using viable counts, live/dead microscopy and comparative genomics. Growth profiles were partly structured by clonal complex, with strains from the same clonal complex showing similar behaviour across stress conditions. Salt and cold reduced growth globally, while smoke-derived phenolic compounds were the most discriminating conditions. CC204 strains showed markedly lower growth rates under phenolic exposure than CC121, CC26 and EGDe. This phenotype was not associated with loss of cultivability or significant loss of membrane integrity. Comparative genomics did not identify a clear gene-content determinant explaining the CC204 phenotype. These results suggest that CC204 has an impaired adaptive response to smoke-derived compounds, likely involving regulatory or physiological mechanisms.

Listeria monocytogenes↗
PubMed2026

BIOCARD framework: integrating fecal bile acids, lipids, and metabolites to assess response to a cardiovascular health intervention.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in under-resourced populations. Although nutritional interventions are important for CVD prevention, their outcomes are commonly evaluated using conventional clinical and behavioral indicators, which may not fully capture early molecular responses. In this study, we developed the BIOCARD framework, an exploratory fecal multi-omics platform integrating bile acids, lipids, and metabolites to evaluate intervention outcomes related to cardiovascular health. Fecal samples were collected from caregiver-child participants enrolled in a 10-week randomized controlled trial comparing a multicomponent garden-based intervention (SHA) with an education-only control group (MSP). Fecal polar metabolites, lipids, and bile acids were analyzed by UHPLC-HRMS-based approaches and integrated with conventional health indicators. Traditional clinical indicators in the present study showed limited sensitivity for detecting intervention-related differences. In contrast, fecal multi-omics analyzes revealed intervention-associated differences in metabolites, lipids, and bile acids, with children showing more apparent molecular variation than parents. Network analysis further revealed associations between selected molecular features and cardiovascular-related indicators, including blood pressure, body fat, skin carotenoids, and Healthy Eating Index scores. Together, these findings suggest that the BIOCARD framework may serve as an exploratory molecular approach to complement traditional outcome measures and improve the evaluation of nutritional interventions for cardiovascular health.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Elucidating the evolution of meat quality, water distribution, microstructure, and protein structure during sous-vide and micro-pressure cooking.

This study investigated the evolution of eating quality (colour, texture and volatile flavour compounds), water status, microstructure and protein structure of pork meat under different cooking methods. The methods analysed included traditional cooking (TC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 100 °C), sous-vide cooking (SV: 1, 2, 3 and 4 h, 60 °C) and micro-pressure cooking (MC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 120 °C). Across the three cooking processes, as cooking time increased, cooking loss, lightness, yellowness, P23, β-sheet, random coil and surface hydrophobicity of the meat samples increased. By contrast, redness, P22, hydrogen proton density, esters content, α-helix, β-turn and sulfhydryl group content decreased. Moreover, the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), adhesiveness, hardness, springiness, gumminess, chewiness, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and fluorescence intensity of the meat samples, initially increased and then decreased as cooking progressed. SV resulted in higher water-holding capacity (WHC), improved redness and increased alcohol and ester levels, whereas MC produced softer meat and greater water mobility. Furthermore, MC enhanced the degree of microstructural damage and protein structural unfolding in the meat. MC requires less time to achieve textures and flavours similar to those obtained using the TC and SV methods. Thus, MC is an efficient cooking method for the catering industry to obtain desired meat quality rapidly.

Cooking↗
PubMed2026

Indigenous body image amid rapid social and economic change: A reflexive thematic analysis of Wayuu narratives.

The Wayuu, Colombia's largest Indigenous group, are experiencing rapid social, economic, and technological change, including expanding internet access, educational opportunities, and increasing exposure to globalised media. Though the harmful effects of appearance-idealised media imagery on body image are well documented, indigenous body image research remains unevenly distributed across global contexts, with Latin American Indigenous communities particularly underrepresented. This study explored how Wayuu people understand and experience appearance ideals and body image in the context of expanding digital media exposure and rapid sociocultural and economic change. Five focus groups of up to 9 participants were conducted with 29 Wayuu participants (18-68 years; 23 women, 6 men). Using reflexive thematic analysis, three overarching themes were identified: (1) Intersecting sources of appearance pressure: encompassing influences from social media, Wayuu family expectations, and discrimination from non-Indigenous peers; (2) Negotiating and resisting appearance ideals: from body dissatisfaction and restrictive eating to affirmation of cultural identity as protection; and (3) The changing role of appearance in today's Wayuu culture: participants linked globalised appearance ideals to expanding educational opportunities, migration, digital connectivity, and broader socioeconomic transformations occurring within Wayuu territories. While exposure to global ideals fostered comparison and dissatisfaction, cultural pride and collective belonging appeared to buffer against internalised colonial values. Culturally grounded media literacy and education initiatives co-developed with Wayuu communities could foster critical reflection while strengthening heritage. These results highlight the need for decolonial, community-based approaches to body image research and intervention in Indigenous contexts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2026

Trends in the Prevalence of Foods High in Saturated Fats, Sodium, and Added Sugars among U.S. adults, NHANES 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND: Foods and beverages high in saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars (HFSS) are often ultra-processed and linked to poor health outcomes, but few studies have investigated their intake. OBJECTIVE: To describe the trends in the intake of HFSS foods and beverages between 2007 and 2018 in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, by sociodemographic characteristics and What We Eat in America food groups. DESIGN: This is a secondary, cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: The final sample included 27,984 adults 19 years of age or older from NHANES with at least one complete dietary recall. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes are the percentage of total energy intake from foods classified as HFSS according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Nutrient Profile Model. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: To estimate the percentage of energy intake from foods and beverages HFSS, linear regression models with interaction terms between cycles and covariates were used. RESULTS: The overall intake of foods and beverages HFSS did not change, representing over 60% of the total energy intake between 2007-2010 and 2015-2018. The intake of foods and beverages high in sodium increased by 2.0 percentage points (95% CI: 0.5, 3.5) and 3.5 percentage points (95% CI: 1.1, 5.8), respectively. The intake of foods and beverages high in saturated fats increased by 6.1 percentage points (95% CI: 4.5, 7.6) and 6.1 percentage points (95% CI: 3.9, 8.2), respectively. The intake of foods and beverages high in added sugars did not change. CONCLUSION: In the U.S., intake of HFSS foods and beverages is high. Future research should focus on whether public health interventions and policies might reduce the intake of foods high in nutrients of concern.

Added sugars↗
PubMed2026

Memantine Augmentation for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Bipolar Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are frequently observed in patients with bipolar disorder and present a significant therapeutic challenge. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of memantine as an adjunctive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 46 patients with bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, stabilized on quetiapine and lithium, were randomly assigned to receive either memantine (n = 23) or placebo (n = 23) for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The memantine group showed a significant reduction in Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores compared with the placebo group (Cohen d = 1.57 vs 0.42, P < 0.001). Nausea was the most common side effect, but overall adverse effects were minimal. CONCLUSION: Memantine appears to be a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with bipolar disorder, warranting further investigation.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

New Horizons in the Development of Treatments for Substance Use Disorders.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health problem in the United States and cause substantial morbidity and mortality. There are meaningful gaps in the available SUD treatment options, and the development of new therapies is urgently needed. While medications with U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval are available for alcohol, nicotine, and opioid use disorders, there are no approved pharmacotherapies for cannabis, cocaine, or methamphetamine use disorders. Behavioral treatments for SUDs have significant limitations in effectiveness and accessibility, and there is a need for the development of both new behavioral treatment options and new models of treatment delivery. The next generation of treatments for SUDs will likely come from a diverse set of interventions, including new drug classes, new technologies, and new methods of delivery.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Perioperative care for patients with opioid exposure and opioid use disorder: screening and treatment strategies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The prevalence of opioid tolerance, dependence, and use disorder is increasing among patients presenting for surgical care, yet perioperative management strategies for these patients remain inconsistent. This review examines the impact of preoperative opioid exposure on surgical outcomes, the scope of untreated opioid use disorder (OUD) among surgical patients, and advances in clinical and systems-level approaches to perioperative care. RECENT FINDINGS: Preoperative opioid exposure independently predicts worse surgical outcomes, including higher opioid consumption, readmissions, complications, and mortality, in a dose-dependent manner. Perioperative opioid exposure predicts persistent opioid use after surgery, with the duration of exposure a stronger predictor of subsequent OUD than daily dose. Data-driven prescribing guidelines and structured opioid tapering reduce overprescribing without compromising pain control. Among surgical patients with diagnosed OUD, approximately two-thirds do not receive medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), though treatment engagement and maintenance substantially improve outcomes. Evidence now clearly supports perioperative buprenorphine continuation over interruption. SUMMARY: Effective perioperative management of opioid-complex surgical patients requires systematic screening, evidence-based prescribing, MOUD continuation, and institutional infrastructure. The primary barrier is shifting from evidence generation to implementation.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Feasibility and effectiveness of the Bergen 4-Day Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder in Australia: A pilot comparison with 3-week inpatient obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a debilitating and chronic condition that, when untreated or unresponsive to treatment, imposes a significant health and economic burden on individuals and families. This prospective non-randomised inpatient study compared the acceptability and clinical outcomes of the Bergen 4-Day Treatment programme with those of a standard 3-week specialised treatment programme for obsessive-compulsive disorder in Australia. METHOD: Twenty-five participants diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder were non-randomly assigned to Bergen 4-Day Treatment (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;12) or a 3-week standard (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;13) inpatient programme. Independent assessments were completed at pre-treatment, 10&#x2009;days post treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was rated to assess obsessive-compulsive disorder severity, while secondary measures of depression, anxiety, obsessive beliefs and wellbeing were self-rated by participants. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable, with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity within the moderate to severe range. After treatment, obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms as well as secondary depression and anxiety symptoms were reduced in both treatment groups. Participants receiving Bergen 4-Day Treatment had significantly lower Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores at 10&#x2009;days (M&#x2009;=&#x2009;13.46) and 3&#x2009;months (M&#x2009;=&#x2009;11.84), compared to standard treatment (M&#x2009;=&#x2009;19.04 and M&#x2009;=&#x2009;19.15, respectively). Response (91.9%) and remission (45.8%) rates for the Bergen 4-Day Treatment group were significantly higher at both post-treatment timepoints, compared to the standard treatment group. No dropouts occurred in the Bergen 4-Day Treatment group, and participant satisfaction was high. CONCLUSION: The findings of this pilot open-label study suggest that Bergen 4-Day Treatment shows promise as an acceptable, efficient and effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, warranting further investigation as a scalable alternative for improving access to specialised obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment in Australia.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Atomoxetine Versus Placebo for Cognitive Deficits in Stimulant Use Disorder: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Stimulant use disorder (StUD), particularly involving cocaine and amphetamines, is associated with significant cognitive impairments that impede recovery and increase relapse risk. Atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, has been proposed as a potential treatment given its role in enhancing executive function and its established efficacy in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy, cognitive, and mood effects of atomoxetine compared with placebo in individuals with StUD. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating atomoxetine for StUD. Eligible studies compared atomoxetine with placebo and assessed outcomes related to cognition (attention and response inhibition), stimulant use or abstinence, mood symptoms, and safety. Data were extracted and synthesized qualitatively due to methodological heterogeneity across studies. RESULTS: Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Findings on cognitive outcomes were inconsistent: Some studies reported improvements in attentional bias and inhibitory control, while others showed no significant effects. Atomoxetine did not significantly reduce stimulant use, craving, or sustain abstinence compared with placebo. Limited mood-related benefits were observed, particularly among male participants, although results were variable. Across studies, atomoxetine was well tolerated, with most adverse events mild and transient. CONCLUSION: Despite a compelling neurobiological rationale and evidence of modest cognitive and mood benefits, atomoxetine has not demonstrated consistent efficacy as a monotherapy for StUD. Its favorable safety profile may warrant further investigation in carefully defined populations, such as individuals with comorbid ADHD or in combination with behavioral interventions.

Atomoxetine Hydrochloride↗
PubMed2026

Shared Medical Appointments for Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Shared medical appointments (SMAs) integrate group-based clinical care with individual medical management and are increasingly used in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) to improve access, engagement, and care coordination. However, their use, outcomes, and implementation in SUD care have not been systematically synthesized. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review registered with PROSPERO (CRD42025639504). MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane Central were searched from database inception through September 2025. Randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and qualitative studies examining SMAs among adults with SUDs were included. Outcomes of interest included treatment engagement and retention, substance use outcomes, mental health and patient-reported outcomes, and implementation characteristics. Study quality was assessed across quantitative and qualitative designs, and findings were synthesized descriptively. RESULTS: Fourteen studies, representing approximately 578 participants, met inclusion criteria. Twelve studies focused exclusively on opioid use disorder, 1 included both alcohol and opioid use disorders, and 1 did not specify substance type. Treatment retention was reported in 6 studies, with a median 6-month retention of 72.9%. Three studies reported reductions in substance use outcomes, and 2 reported improvements in depression or anxiety. Qualitative studies consistently described high patient satisfaction, peer support, and shared accountability. Implementation studies demonstrated feasibility across diverse outpatient settings, with substantial heterogeneity across study designs and outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: SMAs appear feasible and acceptable for addiction care and may support treatment retention and patient experience. Evidence remains heterogeneous and largely observational, highlighting the need for rigorous comparative studies to better define effectiveness and implementation.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Clinical and psychological characteristics of adolescents at risk of mood disorders compared with adolescents with suicidal behavior.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents, yet little is understood about the biopsychosocial factors related to suicidality. The demographic, clinical, and biological characteristics of adolescents with and without psychiatric histories may help inform mechanistic approaches to treatment of mood disorders and suicidality. The 'characterizing the inflammatory profile and suicidal behavior in adolescents' and 'RAD arm of the Texas Resilience Against Depression' studies aimed to characterize the clinical and biological profiles of youth with suicidal behavior and youth at risk for mood disorders, compared to healthy adolescents (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;75 in each group). Here, we report the descriptive baseline clinical and psychological characteristics of adolescents at risk of mood disorders and those with suicidal behavior. The adolescents with suicidal behavior reported 3.53 lifetime suicidal events on average, predominantly reported moderate to very severe depression (34.7%, 24%, to 9.3%), moderate to severe anxiety (58.6%), low optimism (91.9%), and mild (39.2%) to moderate (28.4%) degree of hopelessness. The at-risk adolescents predominantly reported no depression (60%) or anxiety (68.9%), moderate optimism (50%), and a positive outlook (85.7%). Healthy adolescents predominantly reported no depression (88.3%) or anxiety (93.2%), moderate optimism (59%), and a positive outlook (87%). The adolescents with suicidal behavior and those at risk of mood disorders exhibited significantly higher irritability and borderline personality disorder features (uncorrected p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.02 to p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001) and lower resilience compared to healthy adolescents. Ongoing investigations using the longitudinal clinical and biological data will help identify the immune biosignatures of suicidality in youth.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Causal Relationship of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids With Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Mental disorders (MDs) pose a important global health challenge, with a complex pathogenesis complicating treatment development. Nutritional interventions, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), have gained attention as potential therapeutic options. OBJECTIVE: This Mendelian randomization (MR) meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the potential causal relationship between PUFAs and MDs. DATA SOURCES: Genome-wide association study data were utilized to analyze the association between PUFAs (including omega-3, omega-3 percentage [omega-3%], omega-6, omega-6 percentage [omega-6%], and omega-6 to omega-3 ratio) and 12 major MDs. DATA EXTRACTION: Two-sample MR technology was used to assess the role of PUFAs in MDs. DATA ANALYSIS: The MR analysis revealed that genetically predicted omega-3 was causally linked to MDs, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder. Omega-3% exhibited protective effects against emotional personality disorder. Conversely, omega-6 was inversely correlated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder risk, while a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio was associated with an increased risk of depression and other mood disorders. CONCLUSION: High omega-3 levels and omega-3% may reduce the risk of MDs, whereas a high omega-6:omega-3 ratio may elevate the risk. These findings highlight the potential of PUFAs, particularly omega-3, in MD prevention and treatment, while underscoring the need for further research into the complex interactions between omega-3 and omega-6. The study provides a scientific foundation for future clinical trials and dietary intervention strategies. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO no. CRD42024598472.

Humans↗