Depletion of docosahexaenoic acid in red blood cell membranes of depressive patients

Abstract

It has beem hypothesised that a depletion Of omega-3 PUFAs, particularly DHA, may be of aetiologic importance in depression This hypothesis is supported by epidemiological observationsand limited clinical data. We have fiuther investigated the hypothesis [2].PUFA composition of phospholipids in RBC membranes fiom 10 depressed cases and 14 matched controls were measured. Current dietary intake of PUFAs was also measured using the 7day weighed intake method.It was found that total omega3 PUFAs, EPA and DHA levels were significantly lower in the RBC membranes of the depressed subjectssee table I . These RBC PUFAs also correlated strongly and negatively with the Beck Depression Inventory scores of the depressed groupsee figure 1. In addition, the dietary levels of both A-LA and total omega-3 PUFAs in the depressed group correlated strongly and negatively with the Beck Depression Inventorysee figure 2. Significant positive correlations between the dietary and RBC membrane omega-3 PUFAs were also found in the depressed group. Table 1. RBC membrane omega-3 PUFA levels and absolute RBC values are presented as mg/100mg oftotal phospholipid total enerw intake-" (ATEI") Each value represents the mean-? S.E.M. for each subject group Patients (n = 10) Controls (n = 14) p* EPA 0.52 20.07 0.73 20.05 0.02 DHA 3.25 2 0.60 4.72 50.29 0.02 total omega-3 5.39 2 0.93 7.60 20.38 0.02 ATEI" 9153.73 5 769.44 8478.21 2 594.75 0.49 v) r n l w 20 I 3 w o 5 ! 10 1 2 3 5 6 RBC DHA: ns/1 OOmg ci :otal phospholipid Figure 1 Negative correlation between the severin of deuression and RBC DHA.p 30 0 0 cn W [2: 20 a W 0 : l r r = -0.75; p = 0.01 . 0 1000 2000 31 Dietary to:al omega-3 PUFAs: mg/lOOg of total 10 energy intake Figure 2 Negative correlation between the severitv O f deoression and total dietarv Omega -3 PLJF.4The results support the hypothesis of Hibbeln and Salem [ 11 and are consistent with the findings of others [2,3]. The difference in the omega-3 PUFA levels of the cases and controls cannot be explained by differences in smoking, alcohol consumption, stressful life events, reduced energy intake or physical health problems. The subjects were matched for these variables, plus age, gender and body mass index. It has also shown [4] that antidepressant drugs have no effect on omega-3 levels. Omega-3 PUFAs can only be obtained fiom the diet. These findings support the notion that a dietary deficiency of omega-3 PUFAs may be involved in the aetiology of depression. This is supported by the correlations we found in the depressed subjects between dietary A-LA intake and RBC membrane omega-3 PUFAssee table 4.Abnormal PUFA metabolism may also be present which could exacerbate the effect of depleted dietary omega-3 PUFAs.These findings provide the basis for studying the therapeutic effect of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in the treatment of depression.

Is there a role forn-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the regulation of mood and behaviour? A review of the evidence to date from epidemiological studies, clinical studies and intervention trials

“…One study again found negative associations between n-3PUFA intake and depression (64) , although no association between n-3PUFA intake and a number of depressive illnesses and behaviours has also been reported (61,78,79) . These studies, however, are typically small, often fail to account adequately for confounding factors as above, and due to the difficulty of accurately measuring usual diet, are far from conclusive.…”

“…(1998) (63) C major depression (64) C major depression (65) C major depression (66) C and SC major depression (67) C major depression in ACS patients (68) C major depression in ACS patients (69) C depression in MI patients (70) C postpartum (71) C major depression (72) C major depression (74) NC adolescent depression (75) NC depression in lung cancer patients…”

Association of a long‐chain fatty acid‐CoA ligase 4 gene polymorphism with depression and with enhanced niacin‐induced dermal erythema

“…Studies of plasma and red blood cell membrane phospholipid content of fatty acids in depressed subjects have shown reduced content of EPA and DHA [Adams et al, 1996;Edwards et al, 1998;Peet et al, 1998;Maes et al, 1999]. In some settings, this reduced membrane content of EPA and DHA in depression may be a state phenomenon related to low dietary availability [Tanskanen et al, 2001] or the increased requirement during pregnancy, particularly of DHA, for fetal neural development [Hibbeln, 2002].…”

Nutrition and Behaviour: The Role of ω3 Fatty Acids

“…However, only a few studies have focused on dietary factors, a fact which shows their underestimated recognition in research on depression. Lower concentrations of 3 have been reported in the plasma/red blood cell membranes of persons with major depressive disorder diagnosis compared with matched non-depressed control subjects [41][42][43]. Tiemeier et al [44] found in a group of 567 participants statistically significant lower 3 PUFAs levels, and higher 6/ 3 ratios in blood serum in individuals with depressive disorder than in the non-depressed control group.…”