A relationship of anxiety symptoms and serum fatty acid in the patient with depression

The difference between major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

Abstract

International epidemiologic data revealed that intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA) from fish is associated with reduced prevalence of depression. Several studies demonstrate that patients with depression have significantly low serum level of n-3PUFA. There are many reports that treatment of depression patients with n-3PUFA is effective. However, there are few studies on the correlation of serum n-3PUFA level and symptoms among Japanese patient with depression. Therefore, in this study, we examined the serum levels and intakes of fatty acids in 89 patients with depression to correlate serum fatty acid and anxiety symptoms of depression, and the difference between depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. In conclusion, saturated fatty acid and n-3PUFA in patients with bipolar disorder were lower than those in patients with major depressive disorder, but monounsaturated fatty acids and n-6/n-3 ratio in the former were higher than those in the latter. We also found a significant correlation between n-6/n-3 ratio and anxiety symptoms only in patients with bipolar disorder.