Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 352–357. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602321; published online 9 November 2005
The relationship between folate and docosahexaenoic acid in men
Guarantor: JC Umhau.
Contributors: Monte Phillips, Alice T Gasch, and Tricia H Umhau provided thoughtful review of the manuscript. JCU conceptualized the study, recruited and admitted subjects, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. KMD and SHP analyzed the data. DAN assembled and checked the data. RRR assisted with statistical analysis and with writing the statistical section. JRH analyzed the plasma fatty acid composition. DTG conducted the initial study of aggressive behavior and provided significant advice.
J C Umhau1, K M Dauphinais1, S H Patel1, D A Nahrwold1, J R Hibbeln1, R R Rawlings1 and D T George1
1Laboratory of Clinical Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, MD, USA
Correspondence: Dr JC Umhau, Laboratory of Clinical Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 10 Center Drive, Building 10-CRC, Room 1-5330, Bethesda, MD 20892-1108, USA. E-mail: Umhau@nih.gov
Received 30 December 2004; Revised 2 September 2005; Accepted 7 September 2005; Published online 9 November 2005.
Abstract
Objective:
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), an essential omega 3 fatty acid, may protect against disorders of emotional regulation as well as cardiovascular disease. Animal studies demonstrate that dietary folate can increase tissue concentrations of DHA, although the literature, to date, includes no human studies examining the possibility that folate status may affect plasma DHA concentrations. The objective of this study is to determine if the blood concentrations of folate and DHA are correlated in humans.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
An American research hospital.
Subjects:
A total of 15 normal and 22 hostile and aggressive subjects, with a mean age of 38 years.
Methods:
Concentrations of plasma polyunsaturated essential fatty acids and red blood cell folate (RBC folate) were obtained prior to 1996, before American flour was enriched with folate.
Results:
RBC folate was significantly correlated with plasma DHA, r=0.57, P=0.005 in the aggressive group. Age, smoking and alcohol consumption did not alter the results. No other essential fatty acids were significantly associated with RBC folate in either group.
Conclusions:
The positive relationship between plasma DHA and RBC folate concentrations suggests that these two nutrients should be examined together in order to make the most accurate inferences about their relative contributions to disease pathogenesis. Our findings present one explanation why some conditions associated with hostility and low DHA status, such as cardiovascular disease and emotional disorders, are also associated with low folate status.
Sponsorship:
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Keywords:
RBC folate, docosahexaenoic acid, folic acid, n-3 fatty acids, phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase
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