Polyunsaturated fatty acids and brain white matter anisotropy in recent-onset schizophrenia: a preliminary study.
Brain white matter myelin abnormalities and cell membrane fatty acid abnormalities have been implicated in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. We investigated in young adults with a psychotic disorder (n=12) whether (poly)unsaturated fatty acid concentrations in erythrocyte membranes are related to an MRI measure of brain white matter, which depends on the degree of myelination. A significant correlation was found between total (poly)unsaturated fatty acid concentration and fractional anisotropy of a fronto-temporal white matter tract (r=0.503, P=0.048). Unsaturated fatty acids may be necessary for the myelinating activity of oligodendrocytes or for myelin maintenance. These results warrant further investigation.
Peters
B D
BD
Adolescent Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. petersbart@hotmail.com
Duran
M
M
Vlieger
E J
EJ
Majoie
C B
CB
den Heeten
G J
GJ
Linszen
D H
DH
de Haan
L
L
D016880:Anisotropy; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated