title: People with schizophrenia and depression have a low omega-3 index.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in people with mental illness and is associated with a 30 year higher mortality rate in this population. Erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plus eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (omega-3 index)≤4% is a marker for increased mortality risk from CVD while >8% is protective. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are also important for brain function and may ameliorate symptoms of mental illness. We investigated the erythrocyte omega-3 index in people with mental illness. One hundred and thirty adults aged 18-65 years (32.6% male) with schizophrenia (n=14) and depression (n=116) provided blood samples and completed physiological assessments and questionnaires. Both populations had risk factors for metabolic syndrome and CVD. The average omega-3 index was 3.95% (SD=1.06), compared to an estimated 5% in the Australian population. These data indicate an unfavourable omega-3 profile in people with mental illness that could contribute to higher CVD risk.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: natalie.parletta@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parletta
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: dorota.zarnowiecki@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zarnowiecki
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: catherine.cho@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: School of Business and Marketing, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: amy.wilson@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: nicholas.procter@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Procter
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: andrea.fielder@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: School of Business and Marketing, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: svetlana.bogomolova@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bogomolova
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: kerin.odea@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kerin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Dea
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Directorate, Local Southern Adelaide Health Network, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: john.strachan2@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strachan
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Directorate, Local Southern Adelaide Health Network, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: matt.ballestrin@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballestrin
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Directorate, Local Southern Adelaide Health Network, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: andrew.champion@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: bmeyer@uow.edu.au.
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Depression; Mental illness; Omega-3; Omega-3 index; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Schizophrenia