Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control study
Abstract Background Growing data indicated that individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) had widespread inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysregulation. The objective of our study was to detect alterations in lipids of individuals with MDD, with the ultimate aim of deve...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07191-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849235180778160128 |
|---|---|
| author | Lei He Na Duan Chong Wang Ru Shan Jing Li Lin Wang Qiuli Liu Junwei Tao Li Liu Xiaoliang Ma Bing Cao |
| author_facet | Lei He Na Duan Chong Wang Ru Shan Jing Li Lin Wang Qiuli Liu Junwei Tao Li Liu Xiaoliang Ma Bing Cao |
| author_sort | Lei He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Growing data indicated that individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) had widespread inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysregulation. The objective of our study was to detect alterations in lipids of individuals with MDD, with the ultimate aim of developing potential biomarkers that may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. Methods The current study was a single-center cross-sectional case-control design. Serum samples were obtained from 107 individuals diagnosed with MDD and 97 healthy controls (HC) aged 18 to 60 years. Lipidomics analysis was performed using an Ultimate 3000 UHPLC system coupled with a Q-Exactive HF MS platform. All data were processed using the specialized online software Metaboanalyst 5.0. Results Based on the filtering criteria of false discovery rate (FDR) -adjusted P < 0.05, variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1.5, and fold change (FC) > 2.0 or < 0.5, a total of 40 lipids were identified as significantly different. In patients with MDD, we observed an increase in 11 types of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and a decrease in 5 types of OxFAs. Additionally, we found that 8 types of acyl-carnitines (CARs) decreased, primarily comprising singular carbon chain structures, while 3 types of CARs increased, all with numerical carbon chain patterns. Lipid profiles yield a high area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for differentiating MDD, with the most prominent ROC ranking being mostly attributed to OxFAs. Conclusions Our research found significant variations in lipid levels, specifically increased OxFAs and decreased CARs, in individuals with MDD compared to HCs. Supplementation with PUFAs and acyl-carnitines warrants further investigation as a potential strategy for the management of MDD. Nevertheless, further investigation is necessary, and exercise prudence is required when examining and implementing their forms and proportions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da6f3b6a1c0740a98c7a3cd664ac49d3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-da6f3b6a1c0740a98c7a3cd664ac49d32025-08-20T04:02:54ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-08-0125111010.1186/s12888-025-07191-7Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control studyLei He0Na Duan1Chong Wang2Ru Shan3Jing Li4Lin Wang5Qiuli Liu6Junwei Tao7Li Liu8Xiaoliang Ma9Bing Cao10The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Zhengzhou University(The Second People’s Hospital of Zhumadian)Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Ministry of Education, Southwest UniversityAbstract Background Growing data indicated that individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) had widespread inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysregulation. The objective of our study was to detect alterations in lipids of individuals with MDD, with the ultimate aim of developing potential biomarkers that may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. Methods The current study was a single-center cross-sectional case-control design. Serum samples were obtained from 107 individuals diagnosed with MDD and 97 healthy controls (HC) aged 18 to 60 years. Lipidomics analysis was performed using an Ultimate 3000 UHPLC system coupled with a Q-Exactive HF MS platform. All data were processed using the specialized online software Metaboanalyst 5.0. Results Based on the filtering criteria of false discovery rate (FDR) -adjusted P < 0.05, variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1.5, and fold change (FC) > 2.0 or < 0.5, a total of 40 lipids were identified as significantly different. In patients with MDD, we observed an increase in 11 types of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and a decrease in 5 types of OxFAs. Additionally, we found that 8 types of acyl-carnitines (CARs) decreased, primarily comprising singular carbon chain structures, while 3 types of CARs increased, all with numerical carbon chain patterns. Lipid profiles yield a high area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for differentiating MDD, with the most prominent ROC ranking being mostly attributed to OxFAs. Conclusions Our research found significant variations in lipid levels, specifically increased OxFAs and decreased CARs, in individuals with MDD compared to HCs. Supplementation with PUFAs and acyl-carnitines warrants further investigation as a potential strategy for the management of MDD. Nevertheless, further investigation is necessary, and exercise prudence is required when examining and implementing their forms and proportions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07191-7Acyl-carnitineFatty acidOxidizedLipidsMajor depressive disorder |
| spellingShingle | Lei He Na Duan Chong Wang Ru Shan Jing Li Lin Wang Qiuli Liu Junwei Tao Li Liu Xiaoliang Ma Bing Cao Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control study BMC Psychiatry Acyl-carnitine Fatty acid Oxidized Lipids Major depressive disorder |
| title | Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control study |
| title_full | Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control study |
| title_fullStr | Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control study |
| title_short | Lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids (OxFAs) and acyl-carnitines (CARs) in major depressive disorder: a case-control study |
| title_sort | lipidomic analyses reveal the dysregulation of oxidized fatty acids oxfas and acyl carnitines cars in major depressive disorder a case control study |
| topic | Acyl-carnitine Fatty acid Oxidized Lipids Major depressive disorder |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07191-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leihe lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT naduan lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT chongwang lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT rushan lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT jingli lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT linwang lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT qiuliliu lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT junweitao lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT liliu lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT xiaoliangma lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy AT bingcao lipidomicanalysesrevealthedysregulationofoxidizedfattyacidsoxfasandacylcarnitinescarsinmajordepressivedisorderacasecontrolstudy |