Abstract

BackgroundPolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been long implicated in the etiopathogenesis of mental illnesses, including disorders characterized by high impulsivity. The objective of most of the studies in this field is to determine the effect of omega-3 supplementation on the impulsive symptoms. In contrast, studies analyzing basal PUFA composition in patients with impulsive behaviors are very scarce, results are not yet conclusive, and to date, no publication has specifically evaluated this in gambling disorder. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between basal PUFA composition of plasma and erythrocyte membrane and impulsivity in subjects with gambling disorder.MethodsIt is an observational and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of fifty-five men with gambling disorder, who voluntarily accepted to participate. Basal composition of PUFA in plasma and erythrocyte membrane was assessed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Trait impulsivity was measured by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS-11).ResultsArachidonic acid (AA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio in the erythrocyte membrane was negatively correlated with total scores in BIS-11. It was also observed that impulsive gamblers had a higher proportion of EPA and a lower value of AA/EPA and AA/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ratio in erythrocyte membrane than non-impulsive gamblers.ConclusionsThese results support the hypothesis that alteration of basal PUFA composition exists in disorders characterized by high impulsivity, although the direction of this is still unknown. Unfortunately, the empirical literature on this field is non-existent at the time and we have no direct means to support or refute these outcomes. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between essential fatty acids and disorders characterized by high impulsivity.

Highlights

  • Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been long implicated in the etiopathogenesis of mental illnesses, including disorders characterized by high impulsivity

  • The main aim of this study is to explore the relationship between PUFA composition of plasma and erythrocyte membrane and impulsivity in subjects with gambling disorder

  • The main objective of this study is to analyze the association between plasma PUFA concentration or percentage of PUFA in plasma and erythrocyte membrane, and the impulsivity assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale version 11 (BIS-11) in gambling disorder

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Summary

Introduction

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been long implicated in the etiopathogenesis of mental illnesses, including disorders characterized by high impulsivity. The role of essential fatty acids (EFA) in brain functioning is currently unknown They are a major structural component of neuronal membranes, and changing the fatty acid composition of neuronal membranes, leads to functional changes in the activity of Sanchez-Paez et al BMC Psychiatry (2020) 20:109 receptors and other proteins embedded in the membrane phospholipid [3, 4]. They regulate gene expression involved in neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity [5] and have a role in the inflammatory and cellular signaling through the complex eicosanoid pathway [6]

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