Associations between Omega-3 Index, Dopaminergic Genetic Variants and Aggressive and Metacognitive Traits: A Study in Adult Male Prisoners

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 14; no. 7; p. 1379
• Main Authors: Fernandez, Francesca, Byrne, Mitchell K, Batterham, Marijka, Grant, Luke, Meyer, Barbara J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.03.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Aggression; Aggressive behavior; Aggressiveness; attention; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Behavior; Cardiovascular disease; Cell membranes; Cognition; Docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Dopamine; Dopamine - genetics; Dopamine D2 receptors; Dopamine receptors; dopaminergic enzymes; dopaminergic receptors; Enzymes; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Gene polymorphism; Genes; Genetic diversity; Genetic variance; Genotypes; Genotyping; Humans; Hyperactivity; Impulsivity; Male; Males; Membrane structure; Membrane structures; Memory; Metacognition; Omega-3 Index; Polymorphism; Prisoners; Structure-function relationships; White people; Australia; United States > US; Omega-3 Index; hyperactivity; dopaminergic enzymes; attention; prisoners; aggression; dopaminergic receptors; genetic polymorphisms
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu14071379

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) are critical for cell membrane structure and function. Human beings have a limited ability to synthesise docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main n-3 LCPUFA required for neurological development. Inadequate levels of n-3 LCPUFA can affect the dopaminergic system in the brain and, when combined with genetic and other factors, increase the risk of developing aggression, inattention and impulse-control disorders. In this study, male prisoners were administered questionnaires assessing aggressive behaviour and executive functions. Participants also produced blood sampling for the measurement of the Omega-3 Index and the genotyping of dopaminergic genetic variants. Significant associations were found between functional genetic polymorphism in rs1611115 and verbal aggression and between rs4274224 and executive functions. However, the Omega-3 Index was not significantly associated with the tested dopaminergic polymorphisms. Although previous interactions between specific genotypes and n-3 LCPUFA were previously reported, they remain limited and poorly understood. We did not find any association between n-3 LCPUFA and dopaminergic polymorphisms in adult male prisoners; however, we confirmed the importance of genetic predisposition for dopaminergic genes ( and ) in aggressive behaviour, memory dysfunction and attention-deficit disorder.