Association of fatty acid desaturase gene polymorphisms with blood lipid essential fatty acids and perinatal depression among Canadian women: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The FADS1/FADS2 gene cluster encodes Delta-5 and Delta-6 desaturase, rate-limiting enzymes in metabolism of linoleic (LA) to arachidonic (ARA) and alpha-linolenic to eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FADS1/FADS2 contribute to variability in blood lipid fatty acids. Altered n-6 and n-3 fatty acids have been related to perinatal depression (PPD).


METHODS
We genotyped rs174553, rs99780, rs174575, and rs174583 in FADS1/FADS2, analyzed blood lipid fatty acids and assessed PPD risk as an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score > or =10 for 69 pregnant women.


RESULTS
21, 12 and 15% women had an EPDS score > or =10 at 36 weeks' gestation, 2 and 6 months postpartum, respectively. Quantitative trait analysis showed an association between rs174575 and PPD risk at 36 weeks' gestation and 6 months postpartum. With haplotype ACCC (major alleles) for rs174553, rs99780, rs174575, rs174583, respectively, as reference, GTCT was positively associated with PPD risk at 36 weeks' gestation, p = 0.028, and higher LA and lower ARA in plasma (p = 0.0001, p < 0.0001) and RBC ethanolamine phospholipids (p = 0.007, p = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
We show that SNPs in FADS1/FADS2 are associated with higher blood lipid LA and lower ARA and PPD risk.
Xie
Lin
L
Department of Paediatrics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Innis
Sheila M
SM
D002170:Canada; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010500:Perinatology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011247:Pregnancy
D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008055:Lipids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C000716847:FADS1 protein, human