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Biomedical subjects

J D Laugharne

Publications and source records attributed to J D Laugharne.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Alterations in mood after changing to a low-fat diet.

The effects on mood of reducing dietary fat while keeping the energy constant were examined in ten male and ten female healthy volunteers aged between 20 and 37 years. Each volunteer consumed a diet containing 41% energy as fat for 1 month. For the second month half of the subjects changed to a low-fat diet (25% energy from fat) and the remainder continued to eat the diet containing 41% energy from fat. Changes in mood and blood lipid concentrations were assessed before, during and at the end of the study. Profile of mood states (POMS) ratings of anger-hostility significantly increased in the intervention group after 1 month on the low-fat diet, while during the same period there was a slight decline in anger-hostility in the control subjects (group F 6.72; df 1.14; P = 0.021). Tension-anxiety ratings declined in the control group consuming the higher fat diet but did not change in the group consuming the low-fat diet (group F 6.34; df 1.14; P = 0.025). There was a decline in fasting concentrations of HDL-cholesterol after the low-fat diet and a small increase in subjects consuming the medium-fat diet (group F 4.96; df 1.12; P = 0.046), but no significant changes in concentrations of total serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol or triacylglycerol were observed. The results suggest that a change in dietary fat content from 41 to 25% energy may have adverse effects on mood. The alterations in mood appear to be unrelated to changes in fasting plasma cholesterol concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Fatty acids and schizophrenia.

In a controlled study of red cell membrane fatty acids in patients with schizophrenia, substantial depletions of fatty acids from both the n-6 and n-3 series were demonstrated. Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were particularly depleted. In a separate study, dietary analysis revealed no deficiency of fatty acid intake in this patient group, but greater intake of n-3 fatty acids was associated with less severe symptomatology. Dietary supplementation for six weeks with 10 g per day of concentrated fish oil (MaxEPA) led to significant improvement in schizophrenic symptoms. This clinical improvement was related to the increased level of n-3 fatty acids in red cell membranes. These findings form part of a growing body of research data suggestive of an abnormality in cell membrane fatty acid composition in schizophrenia. The preliminary evidence for clinically effective dietary manipulation to correct such an abnormality opens up novel and exciting therapeutic possibilities.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1996

Essential fatty acid deficiency in erythrocyte membranes from chronic schizophrenic patients, and the clinical effects of dietary supplementation.

There is now convincing evidence that membrane phospholipid metabolism is abnormal in schizophrenic patients. Our own studies, consistent with those of other research groups, have shown marked depletion of essential fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid and docosahexanoic acid, in red blood cell membranes from schizophrenic patients relative to healthy control subjects. We also present preliminary evidence that similar abnormalities are present in first degree relatives of schizophrenic patients. Furthermore, it appears that changes in diet, which modify membrane levels of fatty acids, can have significant effects upon symptoms of schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia (TD). Thus, we have found that schizophrenic patients who eat more (n-3) fatty acids in their normal diet have less severe symptoms. In a pilot study of (n-3) fatty acid supplementation we observed significant improvement in both schizophrenic symptoms and tardive dyskinesia over a 6 week period.

Arachidonic Acids↗