Abstract
Introduction: Major depressive disorders and cardiovascular disease are mutually associated. Patients share components of the metabolic syndrome: insulin resistance and alterations in fatty acids (FA) particularly. Significant reductions of total ω- or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) in plasma and erythrocytes were consistently found, as well as increased total n-6/total n-3 PUFA ratios. Deficits in n-3 PUFAs are thought to be causally linked to both depressive disorders and cardiovascular disease. Moreover several studies support n-3 PUFA supplementation as having a distinct antidepressant and cardioprotective role.
Methods: In the present study (part of the Dutch DELTA study in remitted depressed patients with at least two depressive episodes in the past) blood samples of 117 patients were compared with an age and gender matched healthy control group (N= 65). Plasma and erythrocyte composition were measured by gas–liquid chromatography.
Results: The total n-3 PUFA series in plasma and erythrocytes were significantly lower in patients ( p=.04 and pb.001 respectively). The total n-6 PUFA series was significantly lower in patient's erythrocytes only ( p=.003). The n-6/n-3 ratios in erythrocytes were higher in patients than in controls by 17% ( p= .008). Concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA) and DHA in erythrocytes were lower in patients: 20:4n-6 by 8% ( pb.001) and 22:6n-3 by 21% ( pb.001). Also in plasma we found lower 20:4n-6 by 11% ( pb.002) and 22:6n-3 by 16% ( pb.003) in patients compared with controls.
Discussion: Consistent with previous reports in depressed patients, increased n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios as well as lower AA and DHA levels were also found in our MDD-R patients. The FA alterations were found in patients although most of them were clinically recovered (82%), suggesting that the alterations may represent a biological “trait” marker for recurrent depression. Further studies into the nature of the relationship between FA metabolism, mood disorders and cardiovascular disease as well as prospective studies of a possible beneficial/preventive effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation are warranted.
Methods: In the present study (part of the Dutch DELTA study in remitted depressed patients with at least two depressive episodes in the past) blood samples of 117 patients were compared with an age and gender matched healthy control group (N= 65). Plasma and erythrocyte composition were measured by gas–liquid chromatography.
Results: The total n-3 PUFA series in plasma and erythrocytes were significantly lower in patients ( p=.04 and pb.001 respectively). The total n-6 PUFA series was significantly lower in patient's erythrocytes only ( p=.003). The n-6/n-3 ratios in erythrocytes were higher in patients than in controls by 17% ( p= .008). Concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA) and DHA in erythrocytes were lower in patients: 20:4n-6 by 8% ( pb.001) and 22:6n-3 by 21% ( pb.001). Also in plasma we found lower 20:4n-6 by 11% ( pb.002) and 22:6n-3 by 16% ( pb.003) in patients compared with controls.
Discussion: Consistent with previous reports in depressed patients, increased n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios as well as lower AA and DHA levels were also found in our MDD-R patients. The FA alterations were found in patients although most of them were clinically recovered (82%), suggesting that the alterations may represent a biological “trait” marker for recurrent depression. Further studies into the nature of the relationship between FA metabolism, mood disorders and cardiovascular disease as well as prospective studies of a possible beneficial/preventive effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation are warranted.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S71 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 107 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Keywords
- Recurrent depressive disorder
- Fatty acids
- Cardiovascular disease
- Metabolic syndrome