Omega-3 status and cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin releasing hormone in perpetrators of domestic violence

Elevated levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone in the cortical-hippocampal-amygdala pathway increase fear and anxiety, which are components of defensive and violent behaviors. Prostaglandins E 2 and F 2α, which increase corticotrophin-releasing hormone RNA expression in this pathway, are reduce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychiatry (1969) 2004-12, Vol.56 (11), p.895-897
Main Authors: Hibbeln, Joseph R., Bissette, Garth, Umhau, John C., George, David T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Corticotrophin releasing hormone
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - blood
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - cerebrospinal fluid
Crime Victims
docosahexaenoic acid
Docosahexaenoic Acids - blood
Docosahexaenoic Acids - cerebrospinal fluid
Domestic Violence
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - cerebrospinal fluid
Humans
Medical sciences
omega-3 fatty acids
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Regression (Psychology)
Social behavior disorders. Criminal behavior. Delinquency
stress
violence
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Summary:Elevated levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone in the cortical-hippocampal-amygdala pathway increase fear and anxiety, which are components of defensive and violent behaviors. Prostaglandins E 2 and F 2α, which increase corticotrophin-releasing hormone RNA expression in this pathway, are reduced by dietary intakes of omega-3 fats. Among 21 perpetrators of domestic violence, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma were assessed for corticotrophin-releasing hormone and fatty acid compositions, respectively. Lower plasma docosahexaenoic acid (wt% fatty acids) alone predicted greater cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin-releasing hormone (pg/mL), in exponential (r = -.67, p < .006) and linear regressions (r = -0.68, p < .003 excluding four subjects with the highest docosahexaenate levels). In this small observational study, low plasma docosahexaenoic acid levels were correlated to higher cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels. Placebo controlled trials can determine if dietary omega-3 fatty acids can reduce excessive corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels in psychiatric illnesses.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.08.021