title: Oral treatment with amitriptyline induces coenzyme Q deficiency and oxidative stress in psychiatric patients.
abstract: Amitriptyline is a commonly prescribed tricyclic antidepressant, which has been shown to impair mitochondrial function and increase oxidative stress in a variety of in vitro assays. Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and a potent antioxidant, has been proposed as a mitochondrial dysfunction marker. In order to evaluate the putative mitochondrial toxicity of amitriptyline, we have analyzed CoQ(10) and ATP levels, oxidative damage and mitochondrial mass in peripheral blood cells from control healthy volunteers and psychiatric patients with depressive episodes treated or non-treated with amitriptyline. In patients not following amitriptyline treatment, CoQ(10) and ATP levels and mitochondrial mass were reduced when compared to normal individuals while lipid peroxidation was clearly increased. All these alterations were aggravated in patients following oral amitriptyline therapy. These results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction could be involved in the pathophysiology of depression and may be worsened by amitriptyline treatment. CoQ(10) supplementation is postulated to counteract the adverse effects of amitriptyline treatment in psychiatric patients.
authors: Departamento Citología e Histología Normal y Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Sánchez-Pizjuán s/n 41009, Sevilla, Spain. anamf@us.es
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Moreno-Fernández
authors: Mario D
authors: MD
authors: Cordero
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Garrido-Maraver
authors: Elísabet
authors: E
authors: Alcocer-Gómez
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Casas-Barquero
authors: María I
authors: MI
authors: Carmona-López
authors: José Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Sánchez-Alcázar
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: de Miguel
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015415:Biomarkers; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D014451:Ubiquinone; D000639:Amitriptyline; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C024989:coenzyme Q10