title: Project DyAdd: Fatty acids in adult dyslexia, ADHD, and their comorbid combination.
abstract: In project DyAdd, we compared the fatty acid (FA) profiles of serum phospholipids in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (n=26), dyslexia (n=36), their comorbid combination (n=9), and healthy controls (n=36). FA proportions were analyzed in a 2x2 design with Bonferroni corrected post hoc comparisons. A questionnaire was used to assess dietary fat quality and use of supplements. Results showed that ADHD and dyslexia were not associated with total saturated FAs, monounsaturated FAs, or n-3 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs). However, those with ADHD had elevated proportions of total n-6 PUFAs (including gamma-linolenic and adrenic acids) as compared to those without ADHD. Dyslexia was related to a higher proportion of monounsaturated nervonic acid and a higher ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs. Among females none of the associations were significant. However in males, all the original associations observed in all subjects remained and ADHD was associated with elevated nervonic acid and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio like dyslexia. Controlling for poorly diagnosed reading difficulties, education, dietary fat quality, or use of FA supplements did not generally remove the originally observed associations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9 (Siltavuorenpenger 20), FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland. Marja.Laasonen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laasonen
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hokkanen
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leppämäki
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Arja T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Erkkilä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated