Schizophrenia and impaired homocysteine metabolism: a possible association.
BACKGROUND
An increased risk of both schizophrenia and neural tube defects was observed in a birth cohort exposed to famine during early gestation. Neural tube defects have been related to a folate-sensitive genetic defect in homocysteine metabolism. If this were also true for schizophrenia, then cases with low folate (LF)--and only these cases--should have increased homocysteine levels compared with controls.


METHODS
We compared homocysteine levels of schizophrenia cases and normal controls with low folate (LF) and without low folate (non-LF). Low folate was defined by the bottom tertile for controls.


RESULTS
In the LF group (6 cases, 8 controls), mean homocysteine was 10.7 microM in cases compared with 7.7 microM in controls (p = .03). In the non-LF group (11 cases, 16 controls) mean homocysteine did not differ for cases and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These pilot data are compatible with the hypothesis that a folate-sensitive defect in homocysteine metabolism contributes to cases of schizophrenia.
Susser
E
E
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Brown
A S
AS
Klonowski
E
E
Allen
R H
RH
Lindenbaum
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid