Investigation of postmortem brain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in psychiatric disorders: limitations, challenges, and future directions.

摘要

A growing number of case-control studies have investigated the fatty acid composition of postmortem brain tissue from patients with psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (Hamazaki et al., 2010; Horrobin et al., 1991; Landen et al., 2002; McNamara et al., 2007a; Yao et al., 2000), bipolar disorder (Hamazaki et al., 2010; Igarashi et al., 2010; McNamara et al., 2008a), major depressive disorder (Conklin et al., 2010; Lalovic et al., 2007; McNamara et al., 2007b), and suicide (Lalovic et al., 2007; McNamara et al., 2009a). Of particular interest are the principal brain omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) respectively, because prior case-control studies have observed significant erythrocyte membrane DHA and/or AA deficits in psychiatric patients. However, results from different postmortem brain studies have been inconsistent, with some studies finding DHA and/or AA deficits whereas others have not.