A replication study of violent and nonviolent subjects: cerebrospinal fluid metabolites of serotonin and dopamine are predicted by plasma essential fatty acids

• Published in: Biological psychiatry (1969) 1998-08, Vol.44 (4), p.243-249
• Main Authors: Hibbeln, Joseph R, Umhau, John C, Linnoila, Markku, George, David T, Ragan, Paul W, Shoaf, Susan E, Vaughan, Michael R, Rawlings, Robert, Salem, Norman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid; Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcoholism; arachidonic acid; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - cerebrospinal fluid; Case-Control Studies; cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; depression; docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids - blood; Dopamine - metabolism; essential fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - blood; Female; Homovanillic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid; Humans; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid; Impulsive Behavior - cerebrospinal fluid; Impulsive Behavior - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; polyunsaturated fatty acids; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; serotonin; Serotonin - metabolism; Statistics, Nonparametric; suicide; Violence
• ISSN: 0006-3223; 1873-2402
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(98)00143-7

Background: Among an independent group of subjects selected for their history of violent, impulsive behaviors and nonviolent control subjects, we attempted to replicate the finding that plasma docosahexaenoic acid concentrations were negatively correlated with cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (CSF 5-HIAA) concentrations. Methods: CSF 5-HIAA and homovanillic acid (HVA), fasting total cholesterol, and plasma fatty acid concentrations were examined in violent and nonviolent subjects matched for their severity of alcohol dependence. Results: Violent subjects had significantly higher lifetime violence and hostility ratings and lower concentrations of CSF 5-HIAA than nonviolent subjects. Plasma docosahexaenoic acid was negatively correlated with CSF 5-HIAA only among violent subjects. Conclusions: This observational study suggests that dietary essential fatty acids may change neurotransmitter concentrations. Prospective dietary intervention trials will be required to determine if increasing dietary intake of docosahexaenoic acid will increase or decrease either CSF 5-HIAA concentrations or impulsive and violent behaviors.