Fatty acids in selected mental illnesses

Overview

In the etiopathogenesis of serious mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, neurotransmitter dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, and other factors are involved. Dysregulation of fatty acids plays a significant role in these processes. From the point of view of internal medicine, schizophrenia and depression are associated with significant cardiometabolic risk, higher mortality, and significantly shorter life expectancy compared to the general population. The article provides information on the composition and role of fatty acids in the brain and peripheral tissues of patients with schizophrenia and depression, as well as on the current possibilities of using polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of depression and schizophrenia.

Keywords:

mental illness – fatty acids