Eicosapentaenoic acid in serum lipids could be inversely correlated with severity of clinical symptomatology in Croatian war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Aim: To explore the association between plasma fatty acids composition and the severity of clinical symptoms in Croatian war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 62 men diagnosed with PTSD caused by combat activities during the War in Croatia 1991-1995. Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) were used. Plasma fatty acids composition was determined by gas chromatography. Data about life-style habits were collected by a structured interview. To evaluate the association between plasma fatty acid levels and PTSD severity scales, multivariate general linear models (GLM) were applied while controlling for different confounders.

Results: Significant negative correlations were found between plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) level and the scores on psychological scales (τ = -0.326, P<0.001 for CAPS; τ-0.304, P =0 .001 for HAM-A; and τ = -0.345, P<0.001 for HAM-D-17). GLM confirmed that PTSD severity was affected by EPA (Wilks'Λ = 0.763-0.805, P = 0.006-0.018, ηp 0.195-0.237), arachidonic acid (AA)/EPA (Wilks'Λ = 0.699-0.757, P = 0.004, ηp 0.243-0.301), and dairy products consumption (Wilks'Λ = 0.760-0.791, P = 0.045-0.088, ηp 0.128-0.111). No other fatty acid or dietary/lifestyle variable was significant ( P = 0.362-0.633).

Conclusion: The study suggests that lower EPA levels are associated with the severity of clinical symptoms in PTSD.