Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and regional cerebral glucose metabolism in major depression.
Deficiencies in polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (PUFA) are implicated in mood disorders, although mechanisms of action and regional specificity in the brain are unknown. We hypothesized that plasma phospholipid PUFA levels are correlated with regionally specific relative cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (rCMRglu). Medication-free depressed subjects (N=29) were studied using [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3), arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) were assessed as a percentage of total phospholipid PUFA (DHA%, AA%, and EPA%, respectively). DHA% and AA% correlated positively with rCMRglu in temporoparietal cortex. In addition, DHA% correlated negatively with rCMRglu in prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate. No correlations were seen with EPA%. Thus, under conditions of low plasma DHA, rCMRglu was higher in temporoparietal cortex and lower in anterior cingulate/prefrontal cortex. Opposing effects of DHA on these regions is a hypothesis that could be addressed in future prospective studies with n-3 supplementation. This pilot study is the first to demonstrate fatty acid and regionally specific correlations in the brain between plasma PUFA and rCMRglu in humans.
Sublette
M Elizabeth
ME
Department of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 42, New York, NY 10032, USA. es2316@columbia.edu
Milak
Matthew S
MS
Hibbeln
Joseph R
JR
Freed
Peter J
PJ
Oquendo
Maria A
MA
Malone
Kevin M
KM
Parsey
Ramin V
RV
Mann
J John
JJ
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose