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Longitudinal trajectories of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and associations with psychosis spectrum outcomes in early adulthood
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), one of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, has been linked in the past to psychosis. However, the longitudinal trajectories of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the general population have not been thoroughly characterized, and their specific relationships with psychosis spectrum outcomes during early adulthood remain uncertain. In this study by Mongan et al. (2024), the authors utilized nuclear magnetic spectroscopy to measure plasma omega-6:omega-3 ratio and DHA levels (represented as a percentage of total fatty acids) in participants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, ages 7, 15, 17, and 24 years old). By utilizing the Psychosis-Like Symptoms questionnaire (n = 3,635; 61.8% female), 24-year-olds’ psychotic experiences (PEs), at-risk mental state status, and Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (n = 3,484; 62.0% female), diagnoses of psychotic disorders, the quantity of PEs, and negative symptoms were evaluated. Statistical adjustments were made to account alcohol use, cumulative smoking, parental socioeconomic status, sex, and ethnicity. Initial findings indicated that consistently high trajectories of omega-6 to omega-3 ratio were linked to elevated odds of experiencing PEs and psychotic disorders. However, these associations were weakened after accounting for covariates. Similar patterns were observed for persistently low DHA. After adjustment, persistently high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio and low DHA were associated with an increased number of PEs and higher negative symptoms scores. Further investigation into optimizing polyunsaturated fatty acid status during development is warranted to better understand its relationship with psychotic symptoms in early adulthood. [NPID: ALSPAC, negative symptoms, omega-3, plasma, polyunsaturated fatty acid, psychosis]
Year: 2024
