Polyunsaturated fatty acids in middle childhood and externalizing and internalizing behavior problems in adolescence.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the associations of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in middle childhood with externalizing and internalizing behavior problems in adolescence.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: Using gas-liquid chromatography, we quantified n-3 and n-6 PUFA in serum samples of 444 Colombian schoolchildren aged 5-12 years at the time of enrollment into a cohort study. After a median 6 years, adolescent externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were determined with the Youth Self Report (YSR) questionnaire. We estimated adjusted mean behavior problem score differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between quartiles of each PUFA using multivariable linear regression. We also considered as exposures the Δ6-desaturase (D6D) and Δ5-desaturase (D5D) enzyme activity indices.

RESULTS

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was positively associated with externalizing problems; every standard deviation (SD) of DHA concentration was associated with an adjusted one unit higher externalizing problem score (95% CI: 0.1, 1.9). The D5D enzyme activity index was inversely related to externalizing problem scores. Alpha-linolenic acid concentration was positively associated with internalizing problem scores, whereas adrenic acid was inversely related to this outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum PUFA in middle childhood were related to behavior problems in adolescence. Some of these associations might reflect the role of D5D enzyme activity.