TITLE:
The Relationship between Impaired Methylnicotinate Response and Oxidative Stress in Schizophrenia
AUTHORS:
Brian M. Ross, Iain Glen
KEYWORDS:
Ethane, Breath, Fatty Acid, Schizophrenia, Niacin
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.4 No.2,
April
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: MNA response applied
methylnicotinate (MNA) results in an arachidonic acid and
cyclooxygenase-dependent vasodilatatory response which is diminished in
patients with schizophrenia. This observation has been suggested to form the
basis of a diagnostic test for the illness although the potential utility of
such a procedure is diminished since the underlying mechanism is unclear. In
this study we sought to discover if reduced MNA response in schizophrenia is
related to increased oxidative stress i.e. whether or not the two measures are
negatively correlated with each other. MNA response was assessed visually in 17
patients with schizophrenia and 16 healthy controls and compared to the extent
of oxidative stress in each participant assessed by quantifying the lipid
peroxidation product ethane in breath. Serum vitamin E, a lipid soluble
antioxidant, concentrations was also assessed. While MNA response was
correlated with breath ethane concentrations, the expected relationship between
the two measures was not observed. Instead a positive relationship between them
suggests that some patients with schizophrenia have impaired fatty acid
utilization leading to both diminished lipid peroxidation and cyclo-oygenation.
This was not related to vitamin E concentrations, however, suggesting that
lipid soluble anti-oxidant availability did not underlie our findings. Our data
shed further light on the mechanism of impaired MNA response in schizophrenia
and support the notion that this occurs consequent to a change in lipid
metabolism.