OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN RED BLOOD CELL MEMBRANES FROM DEPRESSED FEMALE PATIENTS

There is a hypothesis that lack of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) is of etiological importance in depression. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a member of the n-3 PUFA family, is a crucial component of synaptic cell membranes. Objective: The aim of this study was to measure red blood cell (RBC) membrane n-3 fatty acids in a group of depressed female patients relative to a matched healthy control group. Methods: We measured the fatty acid composition of membranes from RBC of 9 female depressive patients and 6 healthy controls subjects. Results: There was a significant depletion of RBC membrane n-3 PUFAs in the depressed subjects. This result agrees with the international evidence and opens a new line of investigation on etiology of the depression.