Unification of the findings in schizophrenia by reference to the effects of gestational zinc deficiency.
The hypothesis presented here suggests that schizophrenia is caused by the action of gestational zinc deficiency on genetically susceptible foetuses. The psychosis seen is suggested to be due to a combination of dietary or otherwise induced zinc deficiency and lack of zinc releasing capacity in the hippocampus. A non genetic but transmissable immune defect is suggested to be relevant to psychosis and to the nonmendelian pattern of inheritance of the disorder.
Andrews
R C
RC
Charing Cross Hospital, Haematology Department, Fulham, London, UK.
D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency*
D015032:Zinc