High omega-6 and low omega-3 fatty acids are associated with depressive symptoms and neuroticism.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the concentrations of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum obtained from nonpatient community volunteers not selected for hypercholesterolemia. Previously we reported that the relative concentrations of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum covary with depressive symptomatology and neuroticism in hypercholesterolemic adults.


METHODS
A total of 116 adults without current Axis I psychopathology completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the NEO Personality Inventory--Revised (NEO-PI-R). Fasting serum phospholipid eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosahexaenoic (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA) were determined (% of total pool).


RESULTS
Higher AA and AA:EPA ratio, adjusted for age, gender, and race, were associated with greater depressive symptomatology (BDI score of >or=10). Lower EPA, and higher AA, AA:EPA ratio and AA:DHA ratio were associated with greater NEO-PI-R Neuroticism. The six Neuroticism subscales were each associated with two or more fatty acid measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
In conjunction with other reports, these findings suggest that the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are related to negative affect at both the symptom and trait levels.
Conklin
Sarah M
SM
Department of Psychology, Allegheny College, 520 North Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335-3902, USA. Sarah.Conklin@allegheny.edu
Manuck
Stephen B
SB
Yao
Jeffrey K
JK
Flory
Janine D
JD
Hibbeln
Joseph R
JR
Muldoon
Matthew F
MF
D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid