title: Association between serum lipids and membrane fatty acids and clinical characteristics in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Earlier reports indicate that patients with schizophrenia have altered lipid levels in serum and cell membranes. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between clinical characteristics and serum and membrane lipids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five patients with schizophrenia and 51 healthy controls were included. The patients were characterized with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Serum lipids [high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, LDL) and triglyceride (TG)] and erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the participants with schizophrenia, there was a significant correlation between serum triglyceride levels and PANSS-positive symptoms (r = 0.28, P = 0.04), GAF-S (r = -0.48, P = 0.001) and GAF-F (r = -0.32, P = 0.01), and between HDL level and GAF-S (r = 0.37, P = 0.008) and GAF-F (r = 0.28, P = 0.04). Long-chain PUFA were significantly associated with PANSS-negative symptoms (r = 0.52, P < 0.001), GAF-S (r = -0.32, P = 0.02), and GAF-F (r = -0.29, P = 0.04). The patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher TG (P < 0.001) and lower HDL (P < 0.001) levels than healthy controls. HDL was also lower in the subgroup (n = 11) not receiving antipsychotic medication (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest associations between lipid profile and clinical characteristics. This may indicate a role for lipid biology in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Military Psychiatry, Norwegian Defense Medical Services, Oslo, Norway.|Center for Psychopharmacology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Solberg
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychopharmacology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bentsen
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychopharmacology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Refsum
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.|Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Andreassen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D008563:Membrane Lipids
keywords: dyslipidemia; membrane lipids; schizophrenia; symptom levels