Plasma and erythrocyte membrane long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in endogenous depression.

Patients suffering from endogenous depression had significantly greater proportions of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6?3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5?3), and a reduced proportion of linoleic acid (18:2?6) in their plasma choline phosphoglycerides (CPG) compared with age-sex-matched healthy controls. Patients suffering from reactive depression or from other psychiatric disorders did not differ significantly from matched controls. Changes in the fatty acid composition of the major erythrocyte membrane phospholipids were in the same direction but were less marked. The importance and possible reasons for the elevated LCP in endogenous depression are discussed.