Sonia L Robinson1, Henry Oliveros2, Mercedes Mora-Plazas3, Constanza Marín2,3, Betsy Lozoff4,5, Eduardo Villamor6. 1. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 2. Universidad de la Sabana, Chia, Colombia. 3. Foundation for Research in Nutrition and Health, Bogota, Colombia. 4. Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 5. Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 6. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. villamor@umich.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the associations of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in middle childhood with externalizing and internalizing behavior problems in adolescence. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: Using gas-liquid chromatography, we quantified n-3 and n-6 PUFA in serum samples of 444 Colombian schoolchildren aged 5-12 years at the time of enrollment into a cohort study. After a median 6 years, adolescent externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were determined with the Youth Self Report (YSR) questionnaire. We estimated adjusted mean behavior problem score differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between quartiles of each PUFA using multivariable linear regression. We also considered as exposures the Δ6-desaturase (D6D) and Δ5-desaturase (D5D) enzyme activity indices. RESULTS: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was positively associated with externalizing problems; every standard deviation (SD) of DHA concentration was associated with an adjusted one unit higher externalizing problem score (95% CI: 0.1, 1.9). The D5D enzyme activity index was inversely related to externalizing problem scores. Alpha-linolenic acid concentration was positively associated with internalizing problem scores, whereas adrenic acid was inversely related to this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PUFA in middle childhood were related to behavior problems in adolescence. Some of these associations might reflect the role of D5D enzyme activity.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the associations of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in middle childhood with externalizing and internalizing behavior problems in adolescence. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: Using gas-liquid chromatography, we quantified n-3 and n-6 PUFA in serum samples of 444 Colombian schoolchildren aged 5-12 years at the time of enrollment into a cohort study. After a median 6 years, adolescent externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were determined with the Youth Self Report (YSR) questionnaire. We estimated adjusted mean behavior problem score differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between quartiles of each PUFA using multivariable linear regression. We also considered as exposures the Δ6-desaturase (D6D) and Δ5-desaturase (D5D) enzyme activity indices. RESULTS:Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was positively associated with externalizing problems; every standard deviation (SD) of DHA concentration was associated with an adjusted one unit higher externalizing problem score (95% CI: 0.1, 1.9). The D5D enzyme activity index was inversely related to externalizing problem scores. Alpha-linolenic acid concentration was positively associated with internalizing problem scores, whereas adrenic acid was inversely related to this outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PUFA in middle childhood were related to behavior problems in adolescence. Some of these associations might reflect the role of D5D enzyme activity.
Authors: Paul F Davis; Marlies K Ozias; Susan E Carlson; Gregory A Reed; Michelle K Winter; Kenneth E McCarson; Beth Levant Journal: Nutr Neurosci Date: 2010-08 Impact factor: 4.994