No gross abnormality of plasma homocysteine after acute methionine loading in clinically stabilized patients with schizophrenia.
Homocysteine is reported to be a risk factor for schizophrenia. The methionine loading test evaluates the summation of a multitude of enzymatic pathways associated with homocysteine metabolism. Using a challenge paradigm, we measured homocysteine levels in 10 chronic schizophrenia patients and five controls at baseline and 3h after 100mg/kg oral methionine. This pilot study failed to detect a gross abnormality of plasma homocysteine level after acute methionine load in patients with schizophrenia. Elevations in plasma homocysteine reported in schizophrenia do not derive from a dynamic abnormality in methionine metabolism in this challenge paradigm.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion, University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel.
Nurit
N
Shlafman
Svetlana
S
Shaldubin
Julia
J
Applebaum
R H
RH
Belmaker
Joseph
J
Levine