Jane Pei-Chen Chang1, Chih-Ying Lin2, Pan-Yen Lin2, Yin-Hua Shih3, Tsan-Hung Chiu4, Ming Ho5, Hui-Ting Yang6, Shih-Yi Huang7, Piotr Gałecki8, Kuan-Pin Su9. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Mind-Body Interface Laboratory (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; College of Medicine, Brain Disease Research Center (BDRC), China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Mind-Body Interface Laboratory (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Brain Disease Research Center (BDRC), China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Mind-Body Interface Laboratory (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 4. Department of Obstetrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Brain Disease Research Center (BDRC), China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 5. Department of Obstetrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 6. College of Biopharmaceutical and Food Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 7. College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. 8. Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland. 9. Department of Psychiatry, Mind-Body Interface Laboratory (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; College of Medicine, Brain Disease Research Center (BDRC), China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: cobolsu@gmail.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Prenatal depression (PND) is a common psychiatric disorder in pregnant women and leads to psychosocial dysfunction, high suicidal rate, and adverse childcare. Patients with PND have omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 or n-3 PUFAs) deficits, which might link to chronic low-grade inflammatory process and the pathophysiological mechanisms of depression. In this case-control study, we examined the levels of PUFAs and inflammatory cytokines in PND. METHOD: Blood samples were obtained and analyzed from 16 healthy controls and 17 depressed cases (PND group) diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Independent sample t-test and correlation analysis were performed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) logistics correlation analysis. RESULTS: PND group had significantly lower levels of total n-3 (p=0.026), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p=0.020) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (p=0.019) but a higher omega-6 (n-6)/n-3 PUFAs ratio (p=0.007) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p=0.016) level. Moreover, the duration of current PND episodes were also significantly correlated with DHA, EPA, n-3 PUFAs, n-6/n-3 ratio and TNF-α. In terms of PUFAs and cytokine levels, only DHA was inversely correlated with TNF-α. CONCLUSION: PND is significantly associated with lower DHA, EPA, and total n-3 PUFAs levels and an increased n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio, while the duration of PND is associated with lower levels of n-3 PUFAs, including DHA and EPA. The correlation of PUFAs levels with depression and TNF-α level grant further investigation into the inflammatory process underlying PND, mediated by PUFAs.
INTRODUCTION: Prenatal depression (PND) is a common psychiatric disorder in pregnant women and leads to psychosocial dysfunction, high suicidal rate, and adverse childcare. Patients with PND have omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 or n-3 PUFAs) deficits, which might link to chronic low-grade inflammatory process and the pathophysiological mechanisms of depression. In this case-control study, we examined the levels of PUFAs and inflammatory cytokines in PND. METHOD: Blood samples were obtained and analyzed from 16 healthy controls and 17 depressed cases (PND group) diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Independent sample t-test and correlation analysis were performed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) logistics correlation analysis. RESULTS: PND group had significantly lower levels of total n-3 (p=0.026), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p=0.020) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (p=0.019) but a higher omega-6 (n-6)/n-3 PUFAs ratio (p=0.007) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p=0.016) level. Moreover, the duration of current PND episodes were also significantly correlated with DHA, EPA, n-3 PUFAs, n-6/n-3 ratio and TNF-α. In terms of PUFAs and cytokine levels, only DHA was inversely correlated with TNF-α. CONCLUSION: PND is significantly associated with lower DHA, EPA, and total n-3 PUFAs levels and an increased n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio, while the duration of PND is associated with lower levels of n-3 PUFAs, including DHA and EPA. The correlation of PUFAs levels with depression and TNF-α level grant further investigation into the inflammatory process underlying PND, mediated by PUFAs.
Authors: Emily S Miller; Denada Hoxha; Emily Pinheiro; William A Grobman; Katherine L Wisner Journal: Arch Womens Ment Health Date: 2018-04-13 Impact factor: 3.633
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