The Effect of DHA on Myo-Inositol Levels in Lymphoblasts Derived from Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by recurring episodes of mania and depression. Bipolar I disorder is accompanied by severe episodes of mania and depression, while bipolar II disorder is characterized by a milder form of mania. It has been hypothesized that currently approved treatments for this disorder, lithium and valproic acid, exert their therapeutic effect by decreasing myo-inositol levels intracellularly. However, these treatments may lead to undesired side effects, creating a need for safer treatments. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of bipolar disorder. To investigate the effect of an omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on intracellular myo-inositol levels, lymphoblasts derived from patients with bipolar I, bipolar II, and lymphoblasts derived from persons without a mental health condition were grown in the presence of DHA, Intracellular myo-inositol levels were measured in the cell extracts with an inositol assay, and those concentrations were normalized by total protein. A two-way ANOVA was performed on the three trials to determine the significance of the independent interaction between cell lines and treatments and the interaction between them. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the myo-inositol levels across treatment groups or cell lines.