Polyunsaturated fatty acids and brain white matter anisotropy in recent-onset schizophrenia: A preliminary study

Peters, B.D.; Duran, M.; Vlieger, E.J.; Majoie, C.B.; den Heeten, G.J.; Linszen, D.H.; de Haan, L.

doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2009.04.007

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Volume 81, Issue 1 , Pages 61-63, July 2009

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and brain white matter anisotropy in recent-onset schizophrenia: A preliminary study☆

B.D. Peters
- Adolescent Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31208913500; fax: +31208913701.
M. Duran
- Department of Genetic and Metabolic Diseases, Academic Medical Center, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
E.J. Vlieger
- Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
C.B. Majoie
- Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
G.J. den Heeten
- Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
D.H. Linszen
- Adolescent Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
L. de Haan
- Adolescent Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, Postbus 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Received 25 January 2009; received in revised form 27 March 2009; accepted 24 April 2009. published online 25 August 2009.

Abstract

Brain white matter myelin abnormalities and cell membrane fatty acid abnormalities have been implicated in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. We investigated in young adults with a psychotic disorder (n=12) whether (poly)unsaturated fatty acid concentrations in erythrocyte membranes are related to an MRI measure of brain white matter, which depends on the degree of myelination. A significant correlation was found between total (poly)unsaturated fatty acid concentration and fractional anisotropy of a fronto-temporal white matter tract (r=0.503, P=0.048). Unsaturated fatty acids may be necessary for the myelinating activity of oligodendrocytes or for myelin maintenance. These results warrant further investigation.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, Fatty acids, unsaturated, Brain, White matter