Altered omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status in depressed post-myocardial infarction patients.
OBJECTIVE
Lower levels of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) and increased inflammation have been associated with both depressive disorder and myocardial infarction (MI). The present study investigated whether patients who develop depression post-MI, have higher arachidonic acid/eicosapentanoic acid (AA/EPA) ratios than non-depressed post-MI patients and whether depressed post-MI patients have signs of increased inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP).


METHODS
Serum AA/EPA ratio and plasma CRP levels were quantified in 50 post-MI patients, of which 29 were depressed and 21 non-depressed.


RESULTS
Compared with the non-depressed group, depressed post-MI patients had significantly higher AA/EPA ratios. No significant difference was observed in CRP levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressed post-MI patients had lower levels of n-3 LCPUFAs as measured by mean AA/EPA ratio and no signs of increased inflammation as determined by CRP levels.
Schins
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Crijns
H J
HJ
Brummer
R-J M
RJ
Wichers
M
M
Lousberg
R
R
Celis
S
S
Honig
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid