Homocysteinemia as well as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism are associated with affective psychoses.
In the recent years, elevated homocysteine plasma levels have been reported to represent a risk factor not only for atherosclerosis, but also to be associated with dementia, depression and-in a gender-specific manner-schizophrenia. Here, we explored a possible association between homocysteinemia and psychiatric disorders. Fasting homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate were determined in an ethnically homogeneous female population with different psychiatric disorders. Homocysteine was not elevated in females suffering from schizophrenia (mean, 11.6+/-5.8 micromol/l). As shown previously, increased homocysteine concentrations were associated not only with dementia of different aetiology (mean, 17.2+/-6.7 micromol/l; chi2=23.39, p<0.001, compared to the schizophrenia group), but also with depressive disorders (mean, 12.9+/-3.8 micromol/l; chi2=6.88, p=0.009). B12 and folate levels did not differ between different diagnostic groups. To further explore the connection between homocysteinemia and affective psychoses, a case-control study examining the C677T and the A1298C variants of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase was conducted. The latter polymorphism not only was associated with affective psychoses in general, but also when divided in unipolar depression and bipolar affective disorder. In conclusion, we suggest that in females homocysteinemia is an unspecific risk factor for organic brain disorders like dementia, and possibly depression, but not for schizophrenia.
Reif
Andreas
A
Clinical and Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, Füchsleinstr. 15, 97080 Würzburg, Germany. a.reif@gmx.net
Pfuhlmann
Bruno
B
Lesch
Klaus-Peter
KP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003704:Dementia / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12