Plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid patterns in patients with recurrent depression: a matched case-control study.
BACKGROUND
The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of (nerve) cell membranes may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression. Studies so far, focussed mainly on omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs. In the present study, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and PUFAs of the omega-3, -6 and -9 series in plasma and erythrocytes of patients with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD-R) were compared with controls.


RESULTS
We carried out a case-control study. The sample consisted of 137 patients with MDD-R and 65 matched non-depressed controls. In plasma and erythrocytes of patients with MDD-R the concentrations of most of the SFAs and MUFAs, and additionally erythrocyte PUFAs, all with a chain length > 20 carbon (C) atoms, were significantly lower than in the controls. In contrast, the concentrations of most of the shorter chain members (< or = 18C) of the SFAs and MUFAs were significantly higher in the patients. Estimated activities of several elongases in plasma of patients were significantly altered, whereas delta-9 desaturase activity for C14:0 and C18:0 was significantly higher.


CONCLUSIONS
The fatty acid status of patients with MDD-R not only differs with regard to omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs, but also concerns other fatty acids. These alterations may be due to: differences in diet, changes in synthesizing enzyme activities, higher levels of chronic (oxidative) stress but may also result from adaptive strategies by providing protection against enhanced oxidative stress and production of free radicals.
Assies
Johanna
J
Program for Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.assies@amc.uva.nl
Pouwer
François
F
Lok
Anja
A
Mocking
Roel J T
RJ
Bockting
Claudi L H
CL
Visser
Ieke
I
Abeling
Nico G G M
NG
Duran
Marinus
M
Schene
Aart H
AH
D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004493:Education; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000097:blood; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D012008:Recurrence; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases