Serum Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mental Disorders in Young Adults

This week, I’d like to share an important study about polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are mostly found in fatty fish, vegetable oils, and seeds. They are beneficial for reducing the risks of heart diseases, protecting the blood vessels and the brain, and many other.

I’d like to share this particular study that shows a relationship between the polyunsaturated fatty acids serum level and mental disorders in young adults!

 

Blood Levels of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Mental Disorders in Young Adults

The large imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the modern Western diet is thought to contribute to inflammation and associated chronic diseases. There is now a growing body of evidence about the role of low-grade inflammation in the development of mental disorders. This research study looked at the association between PUFA status in adolescence and early adulthood with psychotic disorder, depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Participants were enrolled since birth in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, and data were isolated from two collection points – ages 17 and 24. Plasma PUFA levels included in the study were total omega-6, total omega-3, omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio, and DHA as a percentage of total fatty acids. The presence or absence of mental disorders was determined by participant interviews: Psychosis-Like Symptoms Interview (PLIKSi) for psychotic disorder and Clinical Interview Schedule Revised (CIS-R) for depressive and generalized anxiety disorders, based on ICD-10 criteria. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between PUFA status and mental disorders were analyzed.

The age-17 cross-sectional data showed little association between PUFA status and mental disorders; whereas, the age-24 data revealed a positive association between the omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio and the three mental disorders. In addition, at age 24, DHA was inversely associated with a psychiatric disorder. From the longitudinal analysis, an inverse relationship between DHA level at age 17 and the incidence of psychotic disorder at age 24 was identified. The authors conclude that their findings are significant evidence for the association between PUFAs and mental disorders in early adulthood, particularly regarding DHA and psychosis.

contributed by Jennifer Greer, ND, MEd

Reference

Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and mental disorders in adolescence and early adulthood: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations in a general population cohort

 

Here are some resources in case you like to get some quality polyunsaturated fatty acids;

• Super EPA Pro
• Omega Superb

 

Hope you found this informative and helpful!

 

 

 

 

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