Relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and plasma neuroactive steroids in alcoholism, depression and controls

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 75; no. 4; pp. 309 - 314
• Main Authors: Nieminen, L.R.G., Makino, K.K., Mehta, N., Virkkunen, M., Kim, H.Y., Hibbeln, J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2006
• Subjects: Alcoholism - blood; Case-Control Studies; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - analysis; Depression - blood; Desoxycorticosterone - analogs & derivatives; Desoxycorticosterone - blood; Docosahexaenoic Acids - analysis; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - physiology; Female; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - chemistry; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; Lipids - blood; Male; Mental Disorders - blood; Pituitary-Adrenal System - chemistry; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Pregnanolone - blood; Psychotropic Drugs - blood; Steroids - blood
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2006.07.012

Deficiency in the long-chain ω-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been associated with increased corticotropin releasing hormone and may contribute to hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA) hyperactivity. Elevated levels of the neuroactive steroids, allopregnanolone (3 α,5 α-THP) and 3 α,5 α-tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) appear to counter-regulate HPA hyperactivity. Plasma essential fatty acids and neurosteroids were assessed among 18 male healthy controls and among 34 male psychiatric patients with DSM-III alcoholism, depression, or both. Among all subjects, lower plasma DHA was correlated with higher plasma THDOC ( r=−0.3, P<0.05) and dihydroprogesterone (DHP) ( r=−0.52, P<0.05). Among psychiatric patients lower DHA was correlated with higher DHP ( r=−0.60, P<0.01), and among healthy controls lower plasma DHA was correlated with higher THDOC ( r=−0.83, P<0.01) and higher isopregnanolone (3 β,5 α-THP) ( r=−0.55, P<0.05). In this pilot observational study, lower long-chain ω-3 essential fatty acid status was associated with higher neuroactive steroid concentrations, possibly indicating increased feedback inhibition of the HPA axis.