Omega-6 fatty acids may reduce risk of bipolar disorder

Omega-6 fatty acids, commonly found in eggs, chicken and seafood, may reduce the risk of bipolar disorder, according to a world-first study from the University of South Australia.

Using Mendelian randomization, a powerful method of causal inference, researchers tested 913 metabolites in 14,296 European subjects and found that 33 metabolites (mostly lipids) were associated with risk for bipolar disorder. It turns out that they are related.

Bipolar disorder is a debilitating mood disorder characterized by cycles of mania and depression. Although its cause is not yet clear, research has shown that bipolar disorder is highly heritable. If a parent has bipolar disorder, there is a 1 in 10 chance that the child will also develop bipolar disorder.

One in eight people worldwide has a mental illness, and approximately 40 million people experience bipolar disorder. Almost 3% of Australians (568,000 people over the age of 16) have bipolar disorder.

Lead researcher Dr David Stacey said the new evidence paves the way for new potential lifestyle and dietary interventions.

“There is growing evidence that metabolites play an important role in bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders,” Dr. Stacey says.

“This is very encouraging because if we can find factors associated with certain health conditions, we can identify ways to counteract these conditions through potential lifestyle and dietary interventions.

“In this study, we found that a genetic predisposition to being high in fats, including arachidonic acid*, was linked to a lower risk of bipolar disorder. Conversely, low levels of arachidonic acid were associated with a higher risk of bipolar disorder. Become.

“Arachidonic acid can be obtained directly from meat and seafood, or synthesized from dietary linoleic acid (nuts, seeds, oils, etc.). It is believed to be essential for the development of

“In fact, in many countries, arachidonic acid is added to infant formula to give children the best start in life. Therefore, for people at high risk of bipolar disorder, there is potential to increase this tendency through supplements. There is definitely a sex.

“However, although we know that arachidonic acid is involved in early brain development, the question is whether supplements for bipolar disorder should be taken during the perinatal period or during early childhood. And it's unclear whether it's even beneficial for people who have already been diagnosed.”

Professor Elina Hypponen, a co-author of the study, said preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the preventive or therapeutic value of arachidonic acid supplements to combat bipolar disorder. ing.

Further research is needed to rigorously evaluate the potential of arachidonic acid supplementation in the prevention and treatment of bipolar disorder, especially in people with genetic risk. Our findings support the potential for precision health interventions regarding early childhood nutrition for infant brain development, but we need to know more about its association with bipolar disorder. If we can establish how, why, and when people respond to arachidonic acid supplementation, we will be one step closer to helping people suffering from this serious, lifelong mental health condition. ”

Professor Elina Hypponen

New research – Metabolome-wide Mendelian randomization study identifies dysregulated arachidonic acid synthesis as a potential causative risk factor for bipolar disorder – A paper by Dr. David Stacey, Associate Professor Beben Benyamin, Associate Professor S. Hong Lee, and Professor Elina Hyppönen has been published in the journal Biological. Psychiatry.