Relationship between Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Composition and Psychopathology in the Vienna Omega-3 Study

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 10;11(3):e0151417. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151417. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between erythrocyte membrane fatty acid (FA) levels and the severity of symptoms of individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. Subjects of the present study consisted of 80 neuroleptic-naïve UHR patients. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated between baseline erythrocyte membrane FA levels, measured by gas chromatography, and scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) after controlling for age, sex, smoking and cannabis use. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the predominance of positive or negative symptoms based on PANSS subscale scores; membrane FA levels in the three groups were then compared. More severe negative symptoms measured by PANSS were negatively correlated with two saturated FAs (myristic and margaric acids), one ω-9 monounsaturated FA (MUFA; nervonic acid), and one ω-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA; docosapentaenoic acid), and were positively correlated with two ω-9 MUFAs (eicosenoic and erucic acids) and two ω-6 PUFAs (γ-linolenic and docosadienoic acids). More severe positive symptoms measured by PANSS were correlated only with nervonic acid. No associations were observed between FAs and MADRS scores. In subjects with predominant negative symptoms, the sum of the ω-9 MUFAs and the ω-6:ω-3 FA ratio were both significantly higher than in those with predominant positive symptoms, whereas the sum of ω-3 PUFAs was significantly lower. In conclusion, abnormalities in FA metabolism may contribute to the neurobiology of psychopathology in UHR individuals. In particular, membrane FA alterations may play a role in negative symptoms, which are primary psychopathological manifestations of schizophrenia-related disability.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Austria
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / drug effects
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / metabolism
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects*
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry*
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychopathology
  • Psychotic Disorders / blood
  • Psychotic Disorders / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grant 03T- 315 from the Stanley Medical Research Institute. SWK was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and future Planning (NRF-2014R1A1A4A01005245). MB was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council Australia (NHMRC) Senior Principal Research Fellowship 1059660. SR was supported by an Early Career Fellowship from the Society for Mental Health Research. GPA was supported by NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship 1080963. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.