Fast transmethylation of serum lipids using microwave irradiation

Omega-3 Supplementation Reduces Schizotypal Personality in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Based on a childhood intervention from ages 3 to 5 years that included additional fish consumption and which resulted in reduced schizotypal personality at age 23, we had previously hypothesized that omega-3 could reduce schizotypy. The current study tests the hypothesis that omega-3 supplementation reduces schizotypy in children.

STUDY DESIGN

In this intention-to-treat, randomized, single-blind, stratified, factorial trial, a community sample of 290 children aged 11-12 years were randomized into Omega-3 Only, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Only, Omega-3 + CBT, and Control groups. Schizotypy was assessed using the SPQ-C (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire for Children) at 0 months (baseline), 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months (3 months post-treatment), and 12 months (9 months post-treatment).

STUDY RESULTS

A significant group × time interaction (P = .013) indicated that, compared with Controls, total schizotypy scores were reduced in both Omega-3 Only and Omega-3 + CBT groups immediately post-treatment (d = 0.56 and 0.47, respectively), and also 3 months after supplementation terminated (d = 0.49, d = 0.70). Stronger findings were observed for the interpersonal schizotypy factor, with both omega-3 groups showing reductions 9 months post-treatment compared with the CBT Only group. Schizotypy reductions were significantly stronger for those with higher dietary intake of omega-3 at intake. Sensitivity analyses confirmed findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Results are unique in the field and suggest that omega-3 can help reduce schizotypal personality in community-residing children. From an epidemiological standpoint, if replicated and extended, these findings could have implications for early prevention of more significant schizotypal features developing later in adolescence.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

"Healthy Brains & Behavior: Understanding and Treating Youth Aggression (HBB)." ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00842439, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00842439.

A rapid method for the screening of fatty acids in lipids in plasma or serum without prior extraction

Serum or plasma are the commonly used blood fractions to determine the relationship between dietary and circulating fatty acids in health and disease. Most methods available for the measurement of fatty acids in serum or plasma (referred to as serum henceforth) require prior extraction with organic solvents. We have determined that it is possible to directly convert the lipids in aqueous biological samples to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) without prior extraction, providing that the ratio of serum to transmethylation solvent does not exceed 10%. Our in-vial transmethylation system uses 50uL serum pipetted into 2 mL screw top GC vials containing 1 mL of 1% H₂SO₄ in methanol at 50 °C and subsequent FAME extracted in the same vial into 300uL heptane. The system yields both compositional and quantitative analysis of the fatty acids of serum identical to conventional standard methods. Evaluation of our new serum assay confirms significant correlations between the fatty acid measures and those obtained from conventional standard assay for all fatty acids (r > 0.99, P<0.0001), including the n-6 (r = 0.998, P<0.0001) and n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (r = 0.993, P<0.0001). There were high levels of agreement between methods on Bland -Altman analysis, indicating the interchangeability of the methods. These results establish our new method as reliable for the assessment of fatty acid composition of small volumes of serum useful for high throughput situations that limits the volume of organic solvents and technical input.

Omega-3 (ω-3) and social skills interventions for reactive aggression and childhood externalizing behavior problems: a randomized, stratified, double-blind, placebo-controlled, factorial trial

BACKGROUND

While studies suggest that nutritional supplementation may reduce aggressive behavior in children, few have examined their effects on specific forms of aggression. This study tests the primary hypothesis that omega-3 (ω-3), both alone and in conjunction with social skills training, will have particular post-treatment efficacy for reducing childhood reactive aggression relative to baseline.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, stratified, placebo-controlled, factorial trial, a clinical sample of 282 children with externalizing behavior aged 7-16 years was randomized into ω-3 only, social skills only, ω-3 + social skills, and placebo control groups. Treatment duration was 6 months. The primary outcome measure was reactive aggression collected at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, with antisocial behavior as a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Children in the ω-3-only group showed a short-term reduction (at 3 and 6 months) in self-report reactive aggression, and also a short-term reduction in overall antisocial behavior. Sensitivity analyses and a robustness check replicated significant interaction effects. Effect sizes (d) were small, ranging from 0.17 to 0.31.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide some initial support for the efficacy of ω-3 in reducing reactive aggression over and above standard care (medication and parent training), but yield only preliminary and limited support for the efficacy of ω-3 in reducing overall externalizing behavior in children. Future studies could test further whether ω-3 shows promise in reducing more reactive, impulsive forms of aggression.

Reductions of intimate partner violence resulting from supplementing children with omega-3 fatty acids: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified, parallel-group trial

Omega-3 supplementation has been found to reduce externalizing behavior in children. Reciprocal models of parent-child behavior suggest that improving child behavior could lead to improvements in parent behavior, however no study has examined whether omega-3 supplementation in children could reduce intimate partner violence or child maltreatment by their adult caregivers. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified, parallel group trial, a community sample of children were randomized to receive either a fruit drink containing 1 gm of omega-3 fats (Smartfish Recharge; Omega-3 group, n = 100) or the same fruit drink without omega-3's (Placebo group, n = 100). Child participants, adult caregivers, and research staff were blinded to group assignment. Adult caregivers reported inter-partner and child-directed physical assault and psychological aggression at baseline, 6 months (end of treatment) and 12 months (6 months post-treatment) using the Conflicts Tactics Scale. Caregivers of children in the omega-3 group reported long-term reductions in psychological aggression in a group × time interaction. Improvements in adult psychological aggression were correlated with improvements in child externalizing behavior scores. No differences were reported for child maltreatment. This study is the first to show that omega-3 supplementation in children can reduce inter-partner psychological aggression among adult caregivers not receiving supplements. Findings suggest that improving child behavior through omega-3 supplementation could have long-term benefits to the family system as a whole.

Nutritional supplementation to reduce child aggression: a randomized, stratified, single-blind, factorial trial

BACKGROUND

While some studies suggest that nutritional supplementation may reduce aggressive behavior in children, they have not examined whether its efficacy may be enhanced in conjunction with other treatment approaches. This study tests the hypothesis that a nutritional supplementation of omega-3, multivitamins, and minerals over 3 months, combined with cognitive behavior therapy, will reduce childhood aggression.

METHODS

In this randomized, single-blind, stratified, factorial trial, a high-risk community sample of 290 children aged 11-12 years were randomized into Nutrition only, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) only, Nutrition + CBT, and Control groups. The primary outcome measures of child- and parent-reported aggressive and antisocial behavior were collected at 0 months (baseline), 3 months (end of treatment), 6 months (3 months posttreatment), and 12 months (9 months posttreatment). The trial ('Healthy Brains & Behavior: Understanding and Treating Youth Aggression (HBB)' was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00842439 RESULTS: For child self-reports, children in the Nutrition only group showed reduced externalizing behavior compared to Controls at 3 months. At 6 months, the Nutrition + CBT group scored lower on externalizing behavior compared to both CBT only and Control groups. Findings were more in evidence for an Aggressive-Reactive form of antisocial behavior than for a Callous-Proactive form. Effect sizes were in the small-to-medium range (d = -.33 to -.37). Group differences were not sustained 9 months posttreatment, and no other effects were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide some limited support for the efficacy of omega-3, vitamin, and mineral supplementation in reducing aggressive behavior in children, and represent the first evaluation of nutritional supplements in conjunction with CBT.

Reduction in behavior problems with omega-3 supplementation in children aged 8-16 years: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified, parallel-group trial

BACKGROUND

While limited evidence suggests that omega-3 supplementation may reduce antisocial behavior in children, studies have not reported on posttreatment follow-up and most treatment periods have been of short duration. This study tests the hypothesis that omega-3 supplementation over 6 months will reduce behavior problems in children both at the end of treatment and at 6 months post treatment.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stratified, parallel-group trial, a community sample of 8-16 year old children were randomized into a treatment group (N = 100) and a placebo-control group (N = 100). The supplementation consisted of a fruit drink containing 1 g/day of omega-3 or a placebo consisting of the same fruit drink without omega-3. Participants, caregivers, and research assistants were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome measures of externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were reported by both caregivers and their children in a laboratory setting at 0 months (baseline), 6 months (end of treatment) and 12 months (6 months post treatment), together with the secondary outcome measures of parental antisocial behavior. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis including all participants.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02016079?term=mauritius&rank=2 RESULTS: Significant group × time interactions were observed with the treatment group showing long-term improvements in child behavior problems. The average posttreatment effect size was d = -.59. Effects were documented for parent reports, but with the exception of proactive and reactive aggression, child-report data were nonsignificant. Parents whose children took omega-3 showed significant posttreatment reductions in their own antisocial and aggressive behavior. This improvement in caregiver behavior partly mediated the improvements observed in child behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide initial evidence that omega-3 supplementation can produce sustained reductions in externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. Results are the first to report improvements in caregiver behavior, and to establish this improvement as a part-mechanism for the efficacy of omega-3.

Fast transmethylation of total lipids in dried blood by microwave irradiation and its application to a population study

A methodology combining finger-pricked blood sampling, microwave accelerated fatty acid assay, fast gas chromatography data acquisition, and automated data processing was developed, evaluated and applied to a population study. Finger-pricked blood was collected on filter paper previously impregnated with 0.05 mg of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene and air-dried at room temperature. Transmethylation was accelerated by microwave irradiation in an explosion-proof multimode microwave reaction system. The chemical procedure was based on a one-step direct transmethylation procedure catalyzed by acetyl chloride. The short-term stability of PUFA in blood dried on filter paper and storage at room temperature was examined using venous blood. The recoveries ranged from 97 to 101 % for the categorized fatty acids as well as the ratios of n-6 to n-3 PUFA and the n-3 % highly unsaturated fatty acid. Specifically, recoveries were 99, 98, 97, and 97 % for linoleic acid (18:2n-6), arachidonic acid (ARA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), respectively. The mol% (mean ± SD, 95 % confidence interval) of fatty acid composition in subjects from the population study was determined as 36.2 ± 3.8 (35.8, 36.7), 23.2 ± 3.0 (22.8, 23.5), 36.8 ± 3.5 (36.4, 37.2) and 3.79 ± 1.0 (3.68, 3.91) for the saturated, monounsaturated, n-6 and n-3 PUFA, respectively. Individually, the mean mol% (95 % CI) was 22.6 (22.3, 22.9) for 18:2n-6, 9.5 (9.3, 9.7) for ARA, 0.51 (0.49, 0.53) for ALA, 0.42 (0.38, 0.47) for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and 1.67 (1.61, 1.73) for DHA. This methodology provides an accelerated yet high-efficiency, chemically safe, and temperature-controlled transmethylation, with diverse laboratory applications including population studies.