Fatty acid composition and fatty acid binding protein expression in the postmortem frontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Abnormal levels of n-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been found in the postmortem frontal cortex, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex, of patients with schizophrenia. Altered mRNA expression of fatty acid binding protein (FABP) 5 and FABP7 has likewise been reported. Methods: This study investigated whether PUFAs in the frontal cortex [Brodmann area (BA) 8] and mRNA expression of FABP3, 5, and 7 were different between patients with schizophrenia (= 95) and unaffected controls (= 93). Results: In contrast to previous studies, no significant differences were found in DHA between the groups. Although arachidonic acid (AA) levels w..