Serum pro-BDNF/BDNF as a treatment biomarker for response to docosahexaenoic acid in traumatized people vulnerable to developing psychological distress: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Our open-label pilot study showed that supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and that there might be an association between changes in serum BDNF levels and reduced psychological distress. Animal research has indicated that a DHA-enriched diet increases BDNF in the brain. In this randomized double-blind controlled trial of severely injured patients vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, we examined whether DHA increases serum BDNF levels and whether changes in BDNF levels are associated with subsequent symptoms of PTSD and depression. Patients received 1470 mg per day of DHA plus 147 mg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; n=53) or placebo (n=57) for 12 weeks. Serum levels of mature BDNF and precursor pro-BDNF at baseline and 12-week follow-up were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. At 12 weeks, we used the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale to assess PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms by the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. We found a significant increase in serum BDNF levels during the trial in the DHA and placebo groups with no interaction between time and group. Changes in BDNF levels were not associated with PTSD severity but negatively associated with depression severity (Spearman's ρ=−0.257, P=0.012). Changes in pro-BDNF were also negatively associated with depression severity (Spearman's ρ=−0.253, P=0.013). We found no specific effects of DHA on increased serum levels of BDNF and pro-BDNF; however, evidence in this study suggests that increased BDNF and pro-BDNF have a protective effect by minimizing depression severity.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in mood disorders and antidepressant treatments

“…For example, a recent report measured the amounts of BDNF and proBDNF in serum of severely injured patients vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression with a novel ELISA of proBDNF/BDNF (Matsuoka et al, 2015).…”

Antioxidant Therapies in Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Omega-3 fatty acids are not only fundamental components of membrane phospholipids but also precursors of other important biologically active molecules (prostaglandins). Particularly DHA and EPA are abundantly found in the brain phospholipids, with the former representing about 50% of the weight of the neural tissue cell membranes [111]. Although real benefits in patients with neurodegenerative disorders are still controversial, the supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids has been tested in various pathologies characterized by increased ROS and RNS production.…”

Peripheral blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A number of 27 records did not measure the BDNF level. We excluded 13 additional studies due to the following reasons: four articles for being non-diagnostic [16][17][18][19], two for not being original studies [20,21], and the other two due to insufficient data [12,22]. Five more studies were also excluded due to measuring BDNF in CSF [23], investigating on small sample size [24], using animal samples [25], using replicated data [12], and having no control group [26].…”