ω-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Fatty Acid Desaturase Activity Ratios as Eventual Endophenotypes for
Marcela Henríquez-Henríquez1, Sandra Solari2, Gisela Várgas2
1Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile mhenri@med.puc.cl.
Objective:
Epidemiological studies suggest that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) may be suitable as endophenotypes for ADHD. To be appropriated vulnerability traits, endophenotypes should be altered in unaffected relatives of index cases. Serum profiles of LC-PUFAs in unaffected relatives of ADHD patients remain understudied. The main objective of this study was to compare serum LC-PUFAs in ADHD patients, unaffected relatives of index cases, and general-population unaffected participants.
Method:
LC-PUFA profiles of 72 participants (27 ADHD patients, 27 unaffected relatives, and 18 general-population participants) were obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Groups were compared by parametrical statistics.
Results:
Unaffected females from the general population presented lower Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; p = .0012) and a-linolenic acid (ALA; p = .0091) levels compared with ADHD females and unaffected relatives. In addition, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/ALA and DHA/DPA ratios, addressing desaturase activity, were significantly lower in ADHD patients and unaffected relatives of ADHD patients in the female-subgroup (p = .022 and .04, respectively).
Conclusion:
DHA/ALA, DHA/DPA, serum DPA, and serum ALA may be suitable as endophenotypes for ADHD women.
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