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Zinc and Fatty Acids in Depression

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Abstract

Polyunsaturated Fatty acids (PUFAs) seem to be helpful in the therapy of depression. Zinc (Zn) may be one co-factor contributing to their antidepressive effect. Zn acts lipid protective and is a constituent of fatty acid metabolism enzymes. In animals, an antidepressive effect of Zn was already demonstrated. Therefore, if and how Zn and PUFAs correlate in depressive patients or in individuals from the general population was investigated. Blood samples were collected from 88 depressive in-patients and 88 volunteers from the general population matched for age-group and gender (each 32 men and 56 women, 21–70 years) for measurement of Zn (colorimetric) and of 12 fatty acids (FAs) (by capillary gas-chromatography). Severity of depression in patients was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Zn concentration was independent of age, gender and body-mass-index and significantly correlated with the severity of depression measured by BDI (r = 0.26; P = 0.034) in depressive patients,. HDRS was inversely correlated with gammalinolenic acid concentration (r = −0.24; P = 0.029). Median serum Zn concentration in depressive patients did not differ from control individuals. Zn was correlated with myristic acid concentration (r = 0.22; P < 0.05) in controls from the general population; and a negative correlation between Zn and dihomogammalinolenic acid concentration (r = −0.26; P < 0.05) was found in depressive inpatients. FA composition in serum significantly differed between depressive and healthy persons: Depressive patients had higher stearic and arachidonic acid (AA) concentration. Relative to AA, their eicosapentaenoic and docosapentaenoic acid concentration were diminished compared to the general populations group. These results do not confirm the hypothesis of a general lack of Zn in depressive disorders, but Zn concentrations differed dependent on comorbid disorders and severity of depression. In depressive patients and control persons Zn concentration is associated with different FAs indicating diverging metabolic pathways.

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Notes

  1. The following fatty acids were measured (in brackets the abbreviations used in the text) 14:0(MYR); 16:0(PA); 16:1(PAI); 18:0(STE); 18:1n-9(OL); 18:2 n-6(LA); 18:3n-6(GLA); 18:3n-3(ALA); 20:3n-(DGLA); 20:4n-6(AA); 20:5n-3(EPA); 22:6n-3 (DHA).

Abbreviations

AA:

Arachidonic acid 20:4n-6

ALA:

Alphalinolenic acid 18:3n-3

BDI:

Beck depression inventory

DGLA:

Dihommogammalinolenic acid (20:3n-6)

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3)

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3)

FAs:

Fatty acids

GLA:

Gammalinolenic acid (18:3n-6)

HRSD:

Hamilton rating scale for depression

LA:

Linoleic acid (18:2n-6)

MYR:

Myristic acid (14:0)

OL:

Oleic acid (18:1n-9)

PAL:

Palmitic acid (16:0)

PAI:

Palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7)

PGE2:

Prostaglandin E2

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

STE:

Stearic acid (18:0)

Zn:

Zinc

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Acknowledgments

The research project was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG Er 225/2-1). There exists no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric University Hospital, Universität Rostock, Medizinische Fakultät, Neurochemisches Labor der Klinik für Psychiatrie and Psychotherapie, Gehlsheimer Str.20, 18147, Rostock, Germany

    Gisela Irmisch

  2. Universität Rostock, Medizinische Fakultät, Klinik für Forensische Psychiatrie, Gehlsheimer Str.20, 18147, Rostock, Germany

    Detlef Schlaefke

  3. Norway Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Eastern and Southern Norway, 0405, Oslo, Norway

    Joerg Richter

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  1. Gisela Irmisch
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Correspondence to Gisela Irmisch.

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Irmisch, G., Schlaefke, D. & Richter, J. Zinc and Fatty Acids in Depression. Neurochem Res 35, 1376–1383 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-010-0194-3

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