Resumen

TAPIA S, Alexis  y  MASSON S, Lilia. OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN RED BLOOD CELL MEMBRANES FROM DEPRESSED FEMALE PATIENTS. Rev. chil. nutr. [online]. 2008, vol.35, n.4, pp.406-412. ISSN 0717-7518.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-75182008000500002.

There is a hypothesis that lack ofn-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) is ofetiological impórtame in depression. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a member ofthe n-3 PUFAfamily, is a crucial component ofsynaptic cell membranes. Objective: The aim ofthis study was to measure red blood cell (RBC) membrane n-3 fatty acids in a group of depressed female patients relative to a matched healthy control group. Methods: We measured the fatty acid composition of membranes from RBC of 9 female depressive patients and 6 healthy controls subjects. Results: There was a signiflcant depletion ofRBC membrane n-3 PUFAs in the depressed subjects. This result agrees wiíh the international evidence and opens a new Une ofinvestigation on etiology ofthe depression.

Palabras clave : n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA); depression; docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); red blood cell (RBC).

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