title: Effects of omega-3 PUFA on the vitamin E and glutathione antioxidant defense system in individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defenses are reported in schizophrenia and are associated with disturbed neurodevelopment, brain structural alterations, glutamatergic imbalance, increased negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment. There is evidence that oxidative stress predates the onset of acute psychotic illness. Here, we investigate the effects of omega-3 PUFA on the vitamin E and glutathione antioxidant defense system (AODS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 64 help-seeking UHR-individuals (13-25 years of age), vitamin E levels and glutathione were investigated before and after 12 weeks of treatment with either 1.2g/d omega-3 (PUFA-E) or saturated fatty acids (SFA-E), with each condition also containing 30.4mg/d alpha-tocopherol to ensure absorption without additional oxidative risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariate tests, the effects on the AODS (alpha-tocopherol, total glutathione) were not significantly different (p=0.13, p=0.11, respectively) between treatment conditions. According to univariate findings, only PUFA-E caused a significant alpha-tocopherol increase, while PUFA-E and SFA-E caused a significant gamma- and delta-tocopherol decrease. Total glutathione (GSHt) was decreased by PUFA-E supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effects of the PUFA-E condition on the vitamin E and glutathione AODS could be mechanisms underlying its clinical effectiveness. In terms of the vitamin E protection system, PUFA-E seems to directly support the antioxidative defense at membrane level. The effect of PUFA-E on GSHt is not yet fully understood, but could reflect antioxidative effects, resulting in decreased demand for glutathione. It is still necessary to further clarify which type of PUFA/antioxidant combination, and in which dose, is effective at each stage of psychotic illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Jena, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: stefan.smesny@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smesny
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Jena, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Thueringen-Kliniken GmbH, Rainweg 68, 07318 Saalfeld/Saale, Germany.
authors.forename: Berko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milleit
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University Vienna, Währingergürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Miriam R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Uta-Christina
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Hipler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Jena, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milleit
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University Vienna, Währingergürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Klier
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holub
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.affiliation: Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia; IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University of Melbourne, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGorry
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Jena, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University Vienna, Währingergürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Melbourne 3052, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: G Paul
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Amminger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014810:Vitamin E; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol
keywords: At-risk mental state; Follow-up; Longitudinal; Omega-3 fatty acids; Oxidative stress; Schizophrenia