Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency behavior

An observational study with the blind observers found that rhesus monkeys whose diet was deficient in omega-3 fatty acid initiated more bouts of stereotyped behavior in their cages than monkeys who had received a control diet abundant in omega-3 fatty acids. These stereotyped behaviors associated with the omega-3 fatty acid deficiency were typical of rhesus monkeys raised as partial social isolates or those whose surroundings had been disrupted. The control monkeys had much less stereotypical behavior. It was noted also that stereotypic behavior decreased after meals in males, but not in females. Again, these seemed to be related to central effects on the behavior of n-3-deficient monkeys (Connor et al., 1969). 

Reisbick, S., and Neuringer, M. (1997) Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency and Behavior A Critical Review and Future Directions for Research, in Handbook of Essential Fatty Acid Biology Biochemistry, Physiology and Behavioral Neurobiology (Yehuda, S., and Mostofsky, D.I., eds.) pp. 397-426, Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. 

With a deficiency in linolenic acid (18 3oo3) (but not in linoleic acid), there is a decline in DHA (22 6co3) in the retina and brain, as revealed in studies with rodents and monkeys. With deficiency in only linolenic acid (omega-3), there is also an increase in conversion of the available linoleic acid (omega-6) to produce elevated levels of 22-carbon omega-6 fatty acids (Craig-Schmidt et ah, 1996 Innis et al, 1994). Deficiency in only linolenic acid results in altered learning behaviors and a decreased visual sense. 

Reisbick S, Neuringer M, Hasnain R. Connor WE. Home cage behavior of Rhesus monkeys with long-term deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids. Physiol Behav 1994 55 231-239. 

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