title: Niacin Skin Sensitivity Is Increased in Adolescents at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most studies provide evidence that the skin flush response to nicotinic acid (niacin) stimulation is impaired in schizophrenia. However, only little is known about niacin sensitivity in the ultra-high risk (UHR) phase of psychotic disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared visual ratings of niacin sensitivity between adolescents at UHR for psychosis according to the one year transition outcome (UHR-T n = 11; UHR-NT n = 55) with healthy controls (HC n = 25) and first episode schizophrenia patients (FEP n = 25) treated with atypical antipsychotics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrary to our hypothesis niacin sensitivity of the entire UHR group was not attenuated, but significantly increased compared to the HC group, whereas no difference could be found between the UHR-T and UHR-NT groups. As expected, niacin sensitivity of FEP was attenuated compared to HC group. In UHR individuals niacin sensitivity was inversely correlated with omega-6 and -9 fatty acids (FA), but positively correlated with phospholipase A2 (inPLA2) activity, a marker of membrane lipid repair/remodelling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased niacin sensitivity in UHR states likely indicates an impaired balance of eicosanoids and omega-6/-9 FA at a membrane level. Our findings suggest that the emergence of psychosis is associated with an increased mobilisation of eicosanoids prior to the transition to psychosis possibly reflecting a "pro-inflammatory state", whereas thereafter eicosanoid mobilisation seems to be attenuated. Potential treatment implications for the UHR state should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Neumünsterallee 9, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.|Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Victoria 3052, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Gregor E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smesny
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Victoria 3052, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währingergürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Miriam R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Berko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milleit
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Langbein
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Uta-Christina
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Hipler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milleit
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währingergürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Klier
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währingergürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlögelhofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holub
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holzer
authors.affiliation: Deakin University of Melbourne, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia.|Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Victoria 3052, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McGorry
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jena University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, 35 Poplar Road Parkville, Victoria 3052, Melbourne, Australia.|Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währingergürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: G Paul
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Amminger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005483:Flushing / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009525:Niacin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012306:Risk; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D009525:Niacin; D054467:Phospholipases A2