title: Plasma homocysteine in schizophrenia: determinants and clinical correlations in Tunisian patients free from antipsychotics.
abstract: The existence of association between hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHC) and schizophrenia has been suggested by several recent studies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HHC and its main determinants, and sought a correlation with clinical features in Tunisian patients with schizophrenia. Plasma homocysteine (Hcy), folate, and vitamin B12, as well as the C677T methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism, were studied in 33 patients with schizophrenia, all free from antipsychotic treatment, and 35 age- and smoking-habit-matched healthy subjects as controls. Biochemical determinations and psychometric evaluations were carried out in patients before the administration of antipsychotics. The prevalence of HHC was higher and plasma B12 vitamin was significantly lower in patients. There was no significant difference in genotypic distribution and allelic frequency of the C677T MTHFR polymorphism between groups. Hcy was significantly correlated to the 'anhedonia-asociality' subscales of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). This study showed an association between HHC and schizophrenia, especially with the negative symptoms of the disease. In the Tunisian population, HHC in schizophrenia seems to be linked to vitamin B12 deficiency, likely caused by a lack of dietary animal proteins.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit 03/04 Schizophrenia and Department of Psychiatry F, Razi Hospital, Mannouba, Tunisia. newnoo2001@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Noomen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouaziz
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayedi
authors.forename: Oussama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sidhom
authors.forename: Ameni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kallel
authors.forename: Rym
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rafrafi
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jomaa
authors.forename: Wahid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Melki
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.forename: Naziha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaabechi
authors.forename: Zouhaier
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: El Hechmi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12