Abstract
Our open-label pilot study showed that supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and that there might be an association between changes in serum BDNF levels and reduced psychological distress. Animal research has indicated that a DHA-enriched diet increases BDNF in the brain. In this randomized double-blind controlled trial of severely injured patients vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, we examined whether DHA increases serum BDNF levels and whether changes in BDNF levels are associated with subsequent symptoms of PTSD and depression. Patients received 1470 mg per day of DHA plus 147 mg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; n=53) or placebo (n=57) for 12 weeks. Serum levels of mature BDNF and precursor pro-BDNF at baseline and 12-week follow-up were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. At 12 weeks, we used the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale to assess PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms by the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. We found a significant increase in serum BDNF levels during the trial in the DHA and placebo groups with no interaction between time and group. Changes in BDNF levels were not associated with PTSD severity but negatively associated with depression severity (Spearman's ρ=−0.257, P=0.012). Changes in pro-BDNF were also negatively associated with depression severity (Spearman's ρ=−0.253, P=0.013). We found no specific effects of DHA on increased serum levels of BDNF and pro-BDNF; however, evidence in this study suggests that increased BDNF and pro-BDNF have a protective effect by minimizing depression severity.
Highlights
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has key roles in neuronal differentiation and growth, synapse formation and plasticity, and higher cognitive functions.1 The neurotrophin hypothesis of depression states that reduced levels of brain BDNF are associated with depression.2,3 In the early 21st century, low serum BDNF concentrations in depressive patients4 and increased BDNF concentrations during the course of antidepressant treatment5 were reported
In this randomized controlled trial, we observed increases in serum BDNF levels in injured patients after they received either docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or placebo compared with baseline
We found no specific effect of DHA on serum BDNF and pro-BDNF levels in patients with accidental injury and no psychotropic regular medication
Summary
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has key roles in neuronal differentiation and growth, synapse formation and plasticity, and higher cognitive functions. The neurotrophin hypothesis of depression states that reduced levels of brain BDNF are associated with depression. In the early 21st century, low serum BDNF concentrations in depressive patients and increased BDNF concentrations during the course of antidepressant treatment were reported. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has key roles in neuronal differentiation and growth, synapse formation and plasticity, and higher cognitive functions.. In the early 21st century, low serum BDNF concentrations in depressive patients and increased BDNF concentrations during the course of antidepressant treatment were reported. The most recent meta-analysis confirmed that serum BDNF concentrations were low in untreated depressive patients and normalized by antidepressant treatment. It was suggested that low peripheral BDNF levels were a state biomarker of disease activity reflecting the pathophysiology common to mood disorder and schizophrenia.. Recent reports have shown that pro-BDNF promotes neuronal death, spine retraction and hippocampal longterm depression, suggesting that pro-BDNF and BDNF exert opposing biological functions. Hippocampal longterm depression was found to be facilitated in pro-BDNF knock-in mice, revealing the role of pro-BDNF in vivo
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