title: Serum pro-BDNF/BDNF as a treatment biomarker for response to docosahexaenoic acid in traumatized people vulnerable to developing psychological distress: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Our open-label pilot study showed that supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and that there might be an association between changes in serum BDNF levels and reduced psychological distress. Animal research has indicated that a DHA-enriched diet increases BDNF in the brain. In this randomized double-blind controlled trial of severely injured patients vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, we examined whether DHA increases serum BDNF levels and whether changes in BDNF levels are associated with subsequent symptoms of PTSD and depression. Patients received 1470 mg per day of DHA plus 147 mg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; n = 53) or placebo (n = 57) for 12 weeks. Serum levels of mature BDNF and precursor pro-BDNF at baseline and 12-week follow-up were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. At 12 weeks, we used the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale to assess PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. We found a significant increase in serum BDNF levels during the trial in the DHA and placebo groups with no interaction between time and group. Changes in BDNF levels were not associated with PTSD severity but negatively associated with depression severity (Spearman's ρ = -0.257, P = 0.012). Changes in pro-BDNF were also negatively associated with depression severity (Spearman's ρ = -0.253, P = 0.013). We found no specific effects of DHA on increased serum levels of BDNF and pro-BDNF; however, evidence in this study suggests that increased BDNF and pro-BDNF have a protective effect by minimizing depression severity.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, National Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa, Japan [2] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, National Disaster Medical Center, Tachikawa, Japan [2] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.affiliation: 1] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan [2] Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ikeda, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanima
authors.affiliation: 1] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan [2] Department of Biochemistry, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itakura
authors.affiliation: 1] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan [2] Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ikeda, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.affiliation: 1] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan [2] Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamazaki
authors.affiliation: CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.affiliation: 1] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan [2] Toyama Jonan Onsen Daini Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamazaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011498:Protein Precursors; C426674:brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid