Omega-3 fatty acid treatment and T(2) whole brain relaxation times in bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The authors hypothesized that changes in brain membrane composition resulting from omega-3 fatty acid administration in patients with bipolar disorder would result in greater membrane fluidity, as detected by reductions in T(2) values.


METHODS
Women with bipolar disorder (N=12) received omega-3 fatty acids for 4 weeks. A cohort of bipolar subjects (N=9) and a group without bipolar disorder (N=12) did not receive omega-3 fatty acids. T(2) values were acquired at baseline and after 4 weeks.


RESULTS
Bipolar subjects who received omega-3 fatty acids had significant decreases in T(2). There was a dose-dependent effect when the bipolar omega-3 fatty acid group was subdivided into high- and low-dose cohorts.


CONCLUSIONS
Omega-3 fatty acids lowered T(2) values, consistent with the hypothesis that the fluidity of cell membranes was altered. Further studies are needed to clarify the significance of alterations in brain physiology induced by omega-3 fatty acids, as reflected in T(2) values.
Hirashima
Fuyuki
F
Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA. fuyuki@alum.dartmouth.org.
Parow
Aimee M
AM
Stoll
Andrew L
AL
Demopulos
Christina M
CM
Damico
Karen E
KE
Rohan
Michael L
ML
Eskesen
Justin G
JG
Zuo
Chun S
CS
Cohen
Bruce M
BM
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010919:Placebos