title: Fatty acid correlates of temperament in adolescent boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: Atypical fatty acid metabolism has been reported in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however, its relationship with temperament in this population is unclear. The current study investigated the association between blood levels of fatty acids implicated in brain structure and function (omega-3, omega-6, omega-9) and personality traits of stability (neuroticism, conscientiousness and agreeableness) and plasticity (extraversion and openness). Twenty right-handed adolescent boys with ADHD completed a self-report NEO-FFI personality questionnaire, and had fatty acid content assessed from red blood using gas chromatography. Pearson's correlations showed no significant associations between omega-3 levels and personality. After correction for multiple comparisons, Adrenic Acid (C22:4n6) was inversely associated with stability. Oleic acid (C18:1n9) was positively associated with plasticity. Results are in line with a role of fatty acids in brain function. They suggest that those fatty acids that are involved in myelination (Adrenic, Oleic) have the strongest associations with temperament in adolescents with ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, United Kingdom. alexander.sumich@ntu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alex L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sumich
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsudaira
authors.forename: Bryony
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heasman
authors.forename: Rachel V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gow
authors.forename: Almira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibrahimovic
authors.forename: Kebreab
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghebremeskel
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004883:Erucic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005149:Facial Expression; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament
chemical_list: D004883:Erucic Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; C011395:adrenic acid; D019301:Oleic Acid