Dietary fatty acid and antioxidant intake in community-dwelling patients suffering from schizophrenia.

摘要

INTRODUCTION: Brain phospholipids are uniquely rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Most PUFAs such as alpha-linolenic acid 18:3(n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid 20:5(n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid 22:6(n-3) are essential and must be provided through the diet. PUFAs are also very sensitive to oxidative stress. Decreased essential fatty acid content has been observed in cell membranes of various tissue types of schizophrenia patients, including neural cell membranes. A number of mechanisms may account for these deficits, such as inadequate dietary supply or increased oxidation. It is known that patients with schizophrenia make poor dietary choices. However, whether their dietary fatty acid or antioxidant intake is insufficient and contributes to the observed deficiencies has not been assessed. METHODS: After obtaining informed consent, a 24-h diet recall was administered to elicit nutritional information in 146 outpatients with schizophrenia. Intake of fatty acids and antioxidants including vitamins A, C, and E was compared to U.S. population standards according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Cycle III (NHANES III) results. RESULTS: Saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake was significantly higher in schizophrenia patients than in controls (p