Imbalanced free radicals and antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenia: a comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes of blood oxidative-antiovidative level in schizophrenic patients and its relationship with clinical symptoms.


METHODS
Forty-six Chinese patients met DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV) criteria for schizophrenia and fifty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the present study. Baseline psychiatric symptom severity was assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale, positive and negative syndrome scale on the blood draw day. Fresh blood samples were collected to measure levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in red blood cells by spectrophotometric assays simultaneously.


RESULTS
Comparison of the biochemical parameters indicated that the level of nitric oxide and lipid peroxide increased in patient group, which represented a positive correlation with positive scale scores; while the activities of three critical enzymes decreased and showed a negative linear correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that there are dysregulation of free radical metabolism and poor activities of the antioxidant defense systems in schizophrenic patients. Excess free radicals formation may play a critical role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Using antioxidants might be an effective therapeutic approach to partially alleviate or prevent the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Li
Hui-chun
HC
Department of Psychiatry, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Chen
Qiao-zhen
QZ
Ma
Ying
Y
Zhou
Jun-fu
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide