People with schizophrenia and depression have a low omega-3 index

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in people with mental illness and is associated with a 30 year higher mortality rate in this population. Erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plus eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (omega-3 index)≤4% is a marker for increased mortality risk from CVD while >8% is protective. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are also important for brain function and may ameliorate symptoms of mental illness. We investigated the erythrocyte omega-3 index in people with mental illness. One hundred and thirty adults aged 18-65 years (32.6% male) with schizophrenia (n=14) and depression (n=116) provided blood samples and completed physiological assessments and questionnaires. Both populations had risk factors for metabolic syndrome and CVD. The average omega-3 index was 3.95% (SD=1.06), compared to an estimated 5% in the Australian population. These data indicate an unfavourable omega-3 profile in people with mental illness that could contribute to higher CVD risk. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in people with mental illness and is associated with a 30 year higher mortality rate in this population. Erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plus eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (omega-3 index) ≤ 4% is a marker for increased mortality risk from CVD while >8% is protective. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are also important for brain function and may ameliorate symptoms of mental illness. We investigated the erythrocyte omega-3 index in people with mental illness. One hundred and thirty adults aged 18-65 years (32.6% male) with schizophrenia (n=14) and depression (n=116) provided blood samples and completed physiological assessments and questionnaires. Both populations had risk factors for metabolic syndrome and CVD. The average omega-3 index was 3.95% (SD=1.06), compared to an estimated 5% in the Australian population. These data indicate an unfavourable omega-3 profile in people with mental illness that could contribute to higher CVD risk.

A Mediterranean-style dietary intervention supplemented with fish oil improves diet quality and mental health in people with depression: A randomized controlled trial (HELFIMED)

“…10 We aimed to investigate the impacts of a Mediterranean-style diet intervention for mental health and quality of life (QoL) in people with depression using a RCT design over 3 months with follow-up at 6 months. Owing to the particularly low levels of omega-3 PUFAs in people with mental illness 23 including this sample, 24 we provided participants in the dietary intervention with fish oil supplements for 6 months. This paper reports the dietary changes that were achieved in a Mediterranean-style diet (MedDiet) intervention group versus a social (comparison) group, the impact on mental health, and correlations between improved mental health outcomes and changes in diet and erythrocyte (red blood cell) omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA concentrations.…”

High Variability in Erythrocyte, Plasma and Whole Blood EPA and DHA Levels in Response to Supplementation

“…There are numerous health benefits associated with n-3 LCPUFA, including cardiovascular disease [4][5][6], inflammatory disease [7,8] and mental health [9][10][11][12]. Harris and von Schacky postulated that the Omega-3 Index (sum of EPA and DHA expressed as a percentage of total erythrocyte fatty acids) could be a biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk and that an omega-3 index of greater than 8% is optimal [13].…”

“…Harris and von Schacky postulated that the Omega-3 Index (sum of EPA and DHA expressed as a percentage of total erythrocyte fatty acids) could be a biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk and that an omega-3 index of greater than 8% is optimal [13]. There is evidence that this omega-3 index biomarker may also be useful in terms of mental health [9][10][11]14].…”

A 6-month randomised controlled trial investigating effects of Mediterranean-style diet and fish oil supplementation on dietary behaviour change, mental and cardiometabolic health and health-related quality of life in adults with depression (HELFIMED): study protocol

“…Given the alarmingly low n-3 PUFA intake in western diets [27] and their importance for cardiovascular and mental health, fish oil supplementation was included in this study. Indeed baseline analysis from this cohort and another cohort of people with schizophrenia identified an average omega-3 index (eicosapentaenoic acid; EPA + docosahexaenoic acid; DHA) [28] of 3.95 (SD = 1.06) percent of red blood cell membranes [29] which is in the range that confers highest risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease (≤4 %), and is even lower than the average low level of 5 % in the Australian population [30,31].…”