AI Article Synopsis

  • Research suggests that abnormalities in white matter (WM) are linked to schizophrenia, with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) possibly affecting myelination and showing reduced levels in those with the disorder.
  • A study involving 30 male patients with a recent psychotic disorder found that lower total PUFA concentrations correlated with decreased white matter integrity, measured through diffusion tensor imaging.
  • The results indicate that lower levels of specific PUFAs, like arachidonic acid, are associated with both reduced WM integrity and increased severity of negative symptoms, highlighting the potential for PUFA supplementation to improve outcomes in early psychosis.

Article Abstract

Background: White matter (WM) abnormalities have been implicated in schizophrenia, yet the mechanisms underlying these abnormalities are not fully understood. Several lines of evidence suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a role in myelination, and there is substantial evidence documenting decreased PUFA concentrations in schizophrenia. We therefore hypothesized that lower membrane PUFA concentrations may be related to reduced WM integrity in schizophrenia and related disorders.

Methods: In 30 male patients with a recent-onset psychotic disorder, erythrocyte membrane PUFA concentrations were assessed and diffusion tensor imaging was performed with voxelwise analysis.

Results: Lower total PUFA concentration was associated with lower fractional anisotropy (FA) throughout the corpus callosum and bilateral parietal, occipital, temporal and frontal WM (P < .05, corrected). Of the individual PUFAs, lower arachidonic acid concentration, and to a lesser extent, lower nervonic acid, linoleic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid concentration were significantly associated with lower FA. PUFA concentrations were inversely associated with radial diffusivity but showed little association with axial diffusivity. Greater severity of negative symptoms was associated with lower nervonic acid concentration and lower FA values.

Conclusions: Membrane PUFA concentrations appear to be robustly related to brain WM integrity in early phase psychosis. These findings may provide a basis for studies to investigate the effects of PUFA supplementation on WM integrity and associated symptomatology in early psychosis.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3686450PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbs089DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pufa concentrations
20
acid concentration
16
membrane pufa
12
associated lower
12
polyunsaturated fatty
8
lower
8
concentration associated
8
lower nervonic
8
nervonic acid
8
pufa
7

Similar Publications

Dairy cows with clinical ketosis (CK) exhibit metabolic changes, including intense adipose tissue (AT) lipolysis and systemic insulin resistance, that increase plasma BHB and free fatty acids (FFA). Cows with CK also have systemic inflammation, predisposing them to inflammatory and infectious diseases. This inflammatory process is modulated in part by oxidized fatty acids (oxylipins) that regulate all aspects of inflammation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fatty Acid Content and Profile in in Response to Exposure to Variable Growth Conditions in Indoor Photobioreactors.

Life (Basel)

January 2025

Department of Environmental Studies, Porter School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo 6997801, Israel.

Seaweed presents a sustainable alternative source of valuable fatty acids (FAs) involving omega-3 (-3) and omega-6 (). As such, there is great potential to reduce pressure on wild fish populations, helping to combat overfishing and its associated global impacts. This study explored the effect of various environmental factors on the FA content and profile of using indoor photobioreactors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fatty Acids in Cnidaria: Distribution and Specific Functions.

Mar Drugs

January 2025

A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Palchevskogo 17, Vladivostok 690041, Russia.

The phylum Cnidaria comprises five main classes-Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Hexacorallia, Octocorallia and Cubozoa-that include such widely distributed and well-known animals as hard and soft corals, sea anemones, sea pens, gorgonians, hydroids, and jellyfish. Cnidarians play a very important role in marine ecosystems. The composition of their fatty acids (FAs) depends on food (plankton and particulate organic matter), symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates and bacteria, and de novo biosynthesis in host tissues.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiONPs) as an emerging pollutant in aquatic environments can interact with metals reducing or enhancing their toxicity in these environments. This study examined and compared the toxic effects of mercury ions (Hg ions) on immobilization percentage, fatty acid profile, and oxidative stress of nauplii, individually (Hg) and simultaneously in the presence of 0.10 mg.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The synthesis of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated acids (PUFAs) is associated with physiological functions in mammals, being catalyzed by Δ-5D and Δ-6D desaturases and elongases Elovl-2 and Elovl-5. In this context, we aimed to study the chief kinetic features of PUFA liver anabolism, looking upon (i) the time-dependency for the specific activity of Δ-6D, Δ-5D, Elovl2, Elovl2/5 and Elovl5, using n-3 and n-6 precursors between 0 and 240 min ex vivo in mouse liver.; and (ii) the specific activity-substrate (α-linolenic acid; ALA) concentration responses of Δ-6D in the absence and presence of linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an enzyme regarded as the rate-limiting step in PUFA anabolism.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!