Table 3 Desaturase activities estimated from RBC in schizophrenia patients and controls.

From: Niacin skin flush and membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids in schizophrenia from the acute state to partial remission: a dynamic relationship

 

Schizophrenia (N = 46)

Pooled controls (N = 37)

 

Baseline

2-month follow-up

 

Desaturase activitiesa

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Delta 6 desaturase (×103)

27.6 (20.6)*

23.9 (11.7)*

19.2 (5.4)

Delta 5 desaturase

14.5 (5.4)*

13.8 (4. 9)*

11.4 (2.0)

  1. aDelta-5 desaturase activity was estimated from the ratio of (20:4 n-6)/(20:3 n-6), while delta-6 desaturase activity was from the ratio of (18:3 n-6)/(18:2 n-6).
  2. * p < 0.05 for comparison with the pooled controls in linear regressions adjusting for propensity score consisting of age, sex, and smoking.
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