Abstract |
Major depressive disorders (MDD) and cardiovascular disease are mutually associated. They share signs and symptoms of the " metabolic syndrome". Two observations that may be causally related with the metabolic syndrome and therefore with both MDD and cardiovascular disease are a decrease in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and a rise in plasma homocysteine (tHcy) levels. Both the rise in tHcy and the decrease in omega-3 PUFAs may be associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation. We exploratively studied 44 randomly chosen patients out of a cohort of 134 patients with the recurrent form of MDD (MDD-R). We measured tHcy levels together with saturated FAs, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and PUFAs of the omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 series in plasma and erythrocytes. Levels were compared with laboratory reference values. The main findings were a decrease in the erythrocytes of C22:5omega-3, C22:6omega-3, C24:1omega-9 and C20:3omega-9 and in the plasma a decrease in C24:1omega-9 and C20:3omega-9. The only significant association we found was between the total of omega-6 fatty acids and plasma tHcy. The FA alterations were found in patients although most of them were clinically recovered, suggesting that the alterations may represent a biological" trait" marker for recurrent depression.
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Authors | J Assies, A Lok, C L Bockting, G J Weverling, R Lieverse, I Visser, N G G M Abeling, M Duran, A H Schene |
Journal | Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids
(Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids)
Vol. 70
Issue 4
Pg. 349-56
(Apr 2004)
ISSN: 0952-3278 [Print] Scotland |
PMID | 15041026
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Fatty Acids
- Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
- Homocysteine
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Topics |
- Adult
- Case-Control Studies
- Depression
(blood)
- Fatty Acids
(blood)
- Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
(blood)
- Female
- Homocysteine
(blood)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Pilot Projects
- Recurrence
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