Omega-3 status and cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin releasing hormone in perpetrators of domestic violence

Background: Elevated levels of corticotropbin-releasing hormone in the cortical-bippocampal-amygdala pathway increase fear and anxiety. which are components of defensive and violent behaviors. Prostaglandins E-2 and F-2omega which increase corticotropbin-releasing hormone RNA axpression in this pathway, are reduced by dietary intakes of omega-3 fiats. Methods: Among 21 perpetrators of domestic violence, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma were assessed for corticotropbin-releasing hormone and fatty acid compositions, respectively. Results: Lower plasma docosabexaenoic acid (wt%fatty acids) alone predicted greater cerebrospinal fluid corticotropbin-releasing hormone (pg/mL), in exponential (r = -.67 p <.006) and linear regressions (r = -0.68, p <.003 excluding four subjects with the highest docosabexaenate levels). Conclusions: In this small observational study, low plasma docosahexenoic acid levels were correlated to higher cerebrospinal fluid corticotropbin-releasing hormone levels. Placebo controlled trials can determine if dietary omega-3.fatty acids can reduce excessive corticotropbin-releasing hormone levels in psycbiatric illnesses.