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Blood phospholipid fatty acid analysis of adults with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

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Lipids

Abstract

Several psychiatric disorders, including juvenile Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), have been associated with abnormalities of certain long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA). Despite this reported association, the FA levels of patients with the adult form of ADHD have not previously been evaluated. In this study we measured the total blood phospholipid FA concentrations in 35 control subjects and 37 adults with ADHD symptoms to determine whether adults with ADHD symptoms would show abnormalities of FA relative to control subjects. In the serum phospholipids, adults with ADHD symptoms had significantly lower levels of total saturated, total polyunsaturated, and total omega-6 (n−6) FA, as well as the omega-3 (n−3) LCPUFA DHA (22∶6n−3), and significantly higher levels of total monounsaturated FA and the n−3 LCPUFA docosapentaenoic acid (22∶5n−3). In the erythrocyte membrane phospholipids, adults with ADHD symptoms had significantly lower levels of total PUFA, total n−3 FA, and DHA, and significantly higher levels of total saturated FA. Neither serum nor erythrocyte membrane phospholipid DHA was related to ADHD symptom severity (as assessed by the Amen questionnaire) in ADHD subjects. Although the exact cause of these variations is unknown, both environmental and genetic factors may be involved.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid

ADHD:

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ALA:

α-linolenic acid

DGLA:

dihomo-γ-linolenic acid

DPA:

docosapentaenoic acid

GLA:

γ-linolenic acid

LA:

linoleic acid

LCPUFA:

long-chain PUFA

LNA:

linolenic acid

n−3:

omega-3

n−6:

omega-6

PLA2:

phospholipase A2

RBC:

red blood cell

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Nutraceutical Research Unit, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Julie A. Conquer

  2. Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Science, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Genevieve S. Young, Nicole J. Maharaj & Julie A. Conquer

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  1. Genevieve S. Young
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  2. Nicole J. Maharaj
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  3. Julie A. Conquer
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Correspondence to Julie A. Conquer.

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Young, G.S., Maharaj, N.J. & Conquer, J.A. Blood phospholipid fatty acid analysis of adults with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Lipids 39, 117–123 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1209-3

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