Background
Epidemiologic studies show that low fish intake is a risk factor of suicidality; however,
there are no case–control studies investigating suicide attempt risk and tissue n-3
fatty acid levels.
Methods
We recruited 100 suicide-attempt cases and another 100 control patients injured by
accidents who were admitted to three hospitals affiliated with Dalian Medical University
in Dalian, China. Case and control subjects were matched for age, gender, and smoking
status. Those who were inebriated at the time of hospitalization were excluded. Blood
was sampled immediately after admission to a hospital. Washed red blood cells (RBCs)
were obtained, and the fatty acid composition of the total RBC phospholipid fraction
was analyzed by gas chromatography.
Results
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels in RBC in the case subjects were significantly
lower than those of the control subjects (.74 ± .52% vs. 1.06 ± .62%, p < .0001). When the highest and lowest quartiles of EPA in RBC were compared, the
odds ratios of suicide attempt was .12 in the highest quartile (95% confidence interval:
.04–.36, p for trend = .0001) after adjustment for possible confounding factors
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that low n-3 fatty acid levels in tissues were a risk factor
of suicide attempt. Further studies including intervention with fish oil are warranted.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: August 24, 2004
Accepted:
June 25,
2004
Received in revised form:
June 3,
2004
Received:
February 19,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
