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Changes in plasma and urine docosahexaenoic acid levels in Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Fonteh Alfred N.,
Castor Katherine,
Chung Eun,
Applegate Sarah,
Harrington Michael
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.518.6
Subject(s) - docosahexaenoic acid , urine , medicine , cerebrospinal fluid , pathological , endocrinology , dementia , population , cognitive impairment , fatty acid , chemistry , gastroenterology , disease , polyunsaturated fatty acid , biochemistry , environmental health
Objectives To test the hypothesis that the major brain omega‐3 fatty acid (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, 22:6n‐3), is excreted at a faster rate from study participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared with cognitively normal study participants. Methods We recruited and collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), plasma, and urine from cognitively normal study participants with normal amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) to total tau (CN‐nAT, n= 36), pathological Aβ42/tau (CN‐pAT, n=34), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with normal (MCI‐nAT, n= 28) or pathological Aβ42/tau (MCI‐pAT, n=10), and AD (n=29). Lipids were extracted from pooled plasma and urine samples and DHA levels measured using gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization/mass spectrometry. Results Plasma free DHA and total DHA levels were lower in AD compared with CN and MCI. In contrast, free and total DHA levels in urine were higher in AD compared with CN and MCI. CN and MCI subjects with normal Aβ42/tau had higher plasma DHA than those with pathological Aβ42/tau. Conclusions Dysfunctional regulation of DHA metabolism may account for reduced resolution of inflammation in AD study participants. Measurement of plasma and urine DHA levels may be viable approaches for monitoring metabolic pathways associated with dementia in an aging population. Support or Funding Information L.K. Whittier and the Helen Posthuma Foundations