title: Omega-6 fatty acids and greater likelihood of suicide risk and major depression in early pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of suicide risk (SR) and major depressive episodes (MDEs) in early pregnancy, as well as the relationship of serum fatty acid status to these outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analyses were performed on data from 234 pregnant women enrolled in a prospective cohort study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. SR and MDE were defined according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Fatty acid compositions were determined for serum samples obtained between the 6th and 13th gestational week. Fatty acid data were expressed as the percent of total fatty acids, converted to Z scores and then entered as continuous variables in logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of SR was 19.6% and that of MDE was 17.0%. In the adjusted logistic regressions, a higher likelihood of SR was observed among women with higher arachidonic acid levels [AA (20:4, n-6): OR=1.45, 95%CI 1.02-2.07] and adrenic acid levels [AdA (22:4, n-6): OR=1.43, 95%CI 1.01-2.04]. A higher likelihood of MDE was also observed among women with higher AA levels [OR=1.47, 95%CI 1.03-2.10] and AdA levels [OR=1.59, 95%CI 1.09-2.32].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher serum levels of AA and AdA were associated with a greater likelihood of SR and MDE among pregnant Brazilian women.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Epidemiology Observatory, Josué de Castro Nutrition Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kac
authors.forename: Antonio E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hibbeln
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; C011395:adrenic acid; D016718:Arachidonic Acid
keywords: Arachidonic acid; Major depressive disorder; Omega-6 fatty acids; Pregnancy; Suicide risk