Table 3.
Fatty acid profiles from RBC membranes comparing children with ADHD vs. without (control).
| Fatty acid profiles |
ADHD
n = 32 |
Control
n = 28 |
p * | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturated | Myristic 14:0 | 0.24 ± 0.08 | 0.21 ± 0.05 | 0.084 | ||
| Palmitic acid 16:0 | 21.37 ± 0.63 | 21.39 ± 0.83 | 0.885 | |||
| Stearic 18:0 | ↓ | 17.43 ± 0.81 | 18.00 ± 0.79 | 0.008* | ||
| Eicosanoic 20:0 | 0.15 ± 0.03 | 0.15 ± 0.05 | 0.782 | |||
| Docosanoic 22:0 | 0.23 ± 0.05 | 0.22 ± 0.09 | 0.551 | |||
| Lignoceric 24:0 | ↑ | 0.61 ± 0.15 | 0.50 ± 0.17 | 0.008* | ||
| Mono saturated | Palmitoleic 16:1n7 | 0.22 ± 0.08 | 0.19 ± 0.06 | 0.214 | ||
| Oleic 18:1n9 | 14.56 ± 1.06 | 14.44 ± 0.87 | 0.617 | |||
| Eicosenoic 20:1n9 | 0.29 ± 0.10 | 0.33 ± 0.19 | 0.321 | |||
| Nervonic 24:1 | 0.62 ± 0.13 | 0.53 ± 0.18 | 0.052 | |||
| Polyunsaturated | Omega-6 | Linoleic 18:2n6 | ↑ | 12.79 ± 1.41 | 11.93 ± 0.98 | 0.008 |
| gamma Linolenic 18:3n6 | 0.09 ± 0.02 | 0.09 ± 0.03 | 0.200 | |||
| Eicosadienoic 20:2n6 | 0.25 ± 0.05 | 0.23 ± 0.04 | 0.110 | |||
| DGLA 20:3n6 | ↓ | 1.74 ± 0.43 | 1.95 ± 0.39 | 0.049 | ||
| Arachidonic 20:4n6 | 17.14 ± 1.37 | 17.47 ± 0.99 | 0.174 | |||
| Docosatetraenoic 22:4n6 | 3.81 ± 0.64 | 3.54 ± 0.46 | 0.070 | |||
| Docosapentaenoic 22:5n6 | ↑ | 1.15 ± 0.23 | 1.01 ± 0.24 | 0.022 | ||
| Total omega-6 | ↑ | 36.78 ± 1.23 | 36.09 ± 1.25 | 0.034 | ||
| Omega-3 | ALA 18:3n3 | ↑ | 0.16 ± 0.05 | 0.13 ± 0.03 | 0.021 | |
| EPA 20:5n3 | 0.39 ± 0.14 | 0.38 ± 0.17 | 0.802 | |||
| Docosahexaenic 22:5n3 | 1.99 ± 0.29 | 2.03 ± 0.31 | 0.602 | |||
| DHA 22:6n3 | ↓ | 4.06 ± 0.79 | 4.68 ± 1.37 | 0.040 | ||
| Total omega-3 | 6.60 ± 0.87 | 7.22 ± 1.52 | 0.062 | |||
| Omega-3 Index | 4.45 ± 0.86 | 5.06 ± 1.44 | 0.055 | |||
| Trans | 16:1n7t trans | ↑ | 0.07 ± 0.03 | 0.05 ± 0.02 | 0.031 | |
| 18:1t trans | ↑ | 0.44 ± 0.16 | 0.33 ± 0.14 | 0.005* | ||
| 18:2n6tt trans | 0.006 ± 0.01 | 0.004 ± 0.01 | 0.606 | |||
| 18:2n6ct trans | ↑ | 0.014 ± 0.01 | 0.008 ± 0.01 | 0.021 | ||
| 18:2n6tc trans | ↑ | 0.11 ± 0.03 | 0.09 ± 0.03 | 0.006* | ||
| Total trans | ↑ | 0.64 ± 0.21 | 0.49 ± 0.18 | 0.003* |
Analysis of fatty acids from red blood cell (RBC) membranes was performed via gas chromatography. Fatty acid values are expressed as percentage of total fatty acids and reported as mean ±standard deviation. Mann-Whitney non-parametric tests was used to compare individual fatty acid percentages between ADHD and non-ADHD groups. p-value ≤ 0.05 shown in bold, points to a significant difference. Arrows represent whether mean relative abundance was higher (↑) or lower (↓) in the ADHD vs. control groups. ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; DGLA, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid; ALA, alpha linolenic; omega-3 index was calculated as sum of EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA, docosahexaenoic acid.
Significant after Bonferroni correction according to the subgroups (Saturated 0.0083, Omega-6 0.0071, Omega-3 0.0125, Trans 0.01). Fatty acids with p-value ≥ 0.05 shown in bold.