TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between Omega-3 Index, Dopaminergic Genetic Variants and Aggressive and Metacognitive Traits
T2 - A Study in Adult Male Prisoners
AU - Fernandez, Francesca
AU - Byrne, Mitchell K.
AU - Batterham, Marijka
AU - Grant, Luke
AU - Meyer, Barbara J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by a URC partnership grant, with Corrective Services NSW as our partner, and was obtained by Meyer B.J., Winberg P., Sinn N., Byrne M., Grant L., Batterham M. 'Effect of fish oil and micronutrient supplementation in young adult offenders: a randomised controlled trial'. Correctional Officer Carole Collier is acknowledged for her role as the clinical trial coordinator at South Coast Correctional Centre, Nowra, NSW, Australia. The study volunteers are acknowledged for their participation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/4/1
Y1 - 2022/4/1
N2 - Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) are critical for cell membrane structure and function. Human beings have a limited ability to synthesise docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main n-3 LCPUFA required for neurological development. Inadequate levels of n-3 LCPUFA can affect the dopaminergic system in the brain and, when combined with genetic and other factors, increase the risk of developing aggression, inattention and impulse-control disorders. In this study, male prisoners were administered questionnaires assessing aggressive behaviour and executive functions. Participants also produced blood sampling for the measurement of the Omega-3 Index and the genotyping of dopaminergic genetic variants. Significant associations were found between functional genetic polymorphism in DBH rs1611115 and verbal aggression and between DRD2 rs4274224 and executive functions. However, the Omega-3 Index was not significantly associated with the tested dopaminergic polymorphisms. Although previous interactions between specific genotypes and n-3 LCPUFA were previously reported, they remain limited and poorly understood. We did not find any association between n-3 LCPUFA and dopaminergic polymorphisms in adult male prisoners; however, we confirmed the importance of genetic predisposition for dopaminergic genes (DBH and DRD2) in aggressive behaviour, memory dysfunction and attention-deficit disorder.
AB - Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) are critical for cell membrane structure and function. Human beings have a limited ability to synthesise docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main n-3 LCPUFA required for neurological development. Inadequate levels of n-3 LCPUFA can affect the dopaminergic system in the brain and, when combined with genetic and other factors, increase the risk of developing aggression, inattention and impulse-control disorders. In this study, male prisoners were administered questionnaires assessing aggressive behaviour and executive functions. Participants also produced blood sampling for the measurement of the Omega-3 Index and the genotyping of dopaminergic genetic variants. Significant associations were found between functional genetic polymorphism in DBH rs1611115 and verbal aggression and between DRD2 rs4274224 and executive functions. However, the Omega-3 Index was not significantly associated with the tested dopaminergic polymorphisms. Although previous interactions between specific genotypes and n-3 LCPUFA were previously reported, they remain limited and poorly understood. We did not find any association between n-3 LCPUFA and dopaminergic polymorphisms in adult male prisoners; however, we confirmed the importance of genetic predisposition for dopaminergic genes (DBH and DRD2) in aggressive behaviour, memory dysfunction and attention-deficit disorder.
KW - aggression
KW - attention
KW - dopaminergic enzymes
KW - dopaminergic receptors
KW - genetic polymorphisms
KW - hyperactivity
KW - Omega-3 Index
KW - prisoners
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127042124&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu14071379
DO - 10.3390/nu14071379
M3 - Article
C2 - 35405990
AN - SCOPUS:85127042124
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 14
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 7
M1 - 1379
ER -