BACKGROUND: Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are known to have inflammatory effects. The inflammatory hypothesis of depression suggests that omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids might be negatively and positively correlated with depression, respectively. OBJECTIVE: An exploratory study was conducted to determine the association between dietary free fatty acids and depressive symptoms in cancer patients and caregivers. METHODS: Associations between depression and the NEFA pool were investigated in 56 cancer patients and 23 caregivers using a combination of nonparametric tests and regularized regression. Plasma NEFAs were measured using thin layer and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Depression was characterized both as a continuous severity score using the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (GRID Ham-D), and as a categorical diagnosis of major depression by structured clinical interview. RESULTS: Initial hypotheses regarding the relation between depression and omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids were not well supported. However, elaidic acid, a trans-unsaturated fatty acid found in hydrogenated vegetable oils, was found to be negatively correlated with continuous depression scores in cancer patients. No significant associations were found in caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: An unexpected negative association between elaidic acid and depression was identified, supporting recent literature on the role of G protein-coupled receptors in depression. Further research is needed to confirm this result and to evaluate the potential role of G protein agonists as therapeutic agents for depression in cancer patients.
BACKGROUND: Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are known to have inflammatory effects. The inflammatory hypothesis of depression suggests that omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids might be negatively and positively correlated with depression, respectively. OBJECTIVE: An exploratory study was conducted to determine the association between dietary free fatty acids and depressive symptoms in cancer patients and caregivers. METHODS: Associations between depression and the NEFA pool were investigated in 56 cancer patients and 23 caregivers using a combination of nonparametric tests and regularized regression. Plasma NEFAs were measured using thin layer and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Depression was characterized both as a continuous severity score using the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (GRID Ham-D), and as a categorical diagnosis of major depression by structured clinical interview. RESULTS: Initial hypotheses regarding the relation between depression and omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids were not well supported. However, elaidic acid, a trans-unsaturated fatty acid found in hydrogenated vegetable oils, was found to be negatively correlated with continuous depression scores in cancer patients. No significant associations were found in caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: An unexpected negative association between elaidic acid and depression was identified, supporting recent literature on the role of G protein-coupled receptors in depression. Further research is needed to confirm this result and to evaluate the potential role of G protein agonists as therapeutic agents for depression in cancer patients.
Authors: Celia P Briscoe; Mohammad Tadayyon; John L Andrews; William G Benson; Jon K Chambers; Michelle M Eilert; Catherine Ellis; Nabil A Elshourbagy; Aaron S Goetz; Dana T Minnick; Paul R Murdock; Howard R Sauls; Usman Shabon; Lisa D Spinage; Jay C Strum; Philip G Szekeres; Kong B Tan; James M Way; Diane M Ignar; Shelagh Wilson; Alison I Muir Journal: J Biol Chem Date: 2002-12-19 Impact factor: 5.157
Authors: Beatriz Franco-Arellano; JoAnne Arcand; Min Ah Kim; Alyssa Schermel; Mary R L'Abbé Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2020-06-02 Impact factor: 4.022
Authors: Almudena Sánchez-Villegas; Lisa Verberne; Jokin De Irala; Miguel Ruíz-Canela; Estefanía Toledo; Lluis Serra-Majem; Miguel Angel Martínez-González Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-01-26 Impact factor: 3.240