The above paper describes the results of a longitudinal cross-sectional study to determine if dietary fat intake is correlated with stress and mood.  The study consistently showed that higher stress and strain is associated with lower dietary fat intake.  The study also showed that increase fish consumption was correlated with reduced levels of stress.  The results of the study are interesting and warrant further research into the effects various diets and the stress response.

I believe that the high fat diet may moderate stress through balancing blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) are interconnected. Hypoglycaemia triggers the SNS and stress induces hyperglycaemic states. The increased dietary fat and/or the relative reduction in carbohydrates may be responsible for the “adaptogenic” effect of the high fat diet by stabilising and preventing rapid fluctuations in blood glucose levels which may trigger the SNS. Other factors that moderate blood glucose levels, like fiber, protein, smaller more frequent meals and an increase in complex carbohydrates with a reduction in simple sugars, may prove beneficial for stress adaptation.

The study showed a negative correlation between fish consumption and vocational stress, even though the diets high in fish were lower in total fat.  As discussed in the article, a number of reasons could explain these results. I believe the essential fatty acids in fish may exert an “adoptogenic” effect in relative small amounts that is independent of the effects of total fat intake. Further studies are required to determine if a reduction in stress response will be observed with supplementation of fish oils. As mentioned by the authors future comparison trials are needed to determine whether dietary fats in general or specific fatty acids may be most protective against stress.

Health care practitioners should not recommend people to increase their intake of all dietary fats during stressful periods. Stress and high intake of saturated fats are serious risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Although this study suggests a high fat diet may be protective against stress, this is in complete contrast to a research study performed on rats. Kitraki et al study indicates that a moderately unbalanced, fat-enriched diet disrupts the metabolic neuroendocrine balance and the stress response in rats.  They concluded the high-fat diet renders the rats more vulnerable to stressful insults[1]. Dietary intervention appears to have potential to improve stress tolerance, but further research is required before we advise people to increase their total fat intake during stressful periods.