Department of Chemical Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
West Afr J Med. 2022 Dec 29;39(12):1266-1272.
Trace elements are involved in oxidation reduction reactions in the body, including the central nervous system. The relationship between trace elements and psychiatric disorders have not been extensively investigated in the local population. We assessed the relationships between selected trace elements and schizophrenia.
A cross-sectional study of 70 newly diagnosed participants with schizophrenia, mean age = 33.6 ±10.7 years were recruited by simple random sampling. Sixty age-matched healthy subjects, mean age of 34.2 ± 7.9 years were recruited as control. Plasma Zn, Cu, Mn and Se were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer while toe nail Zn, Cu, Mn and Se were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy in both participants and controls. Illness severity was assessed using PANSS score.
Mean plasma Zn, Cu and Mn were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia than in control (p<0.001) while mean concentration of plasma Se was significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia than in control (p<0.001). Mean concentration of toenail Zn, Cu and Mn were significantly lower among schizophrenic group than in control group (p<0.001), however, mean toe nail Se level was similar in schizophrenic and control groups. In logistic regression, low plasma levels of Zn (Odds Ratio = 2.296, p<0.001), Cu (p<0.001), Mn (p<0.001) and Se (p<0.001) were independently associated with schizophrenia. There was no significant relationship between plasma Zn, Cu, Mn and Se and severity of illness using PANSS score.
There is a possibility that low levels of Zn, Cu and Mn are involved in the aetiopathogenesis and progression of schizophrenia.
微量元素参与体内氧化还原反应，包括中枢神经系统。微量元素与精神疾病之间的关系在当地人群中尚未得到广泛研究。我们评估了选定的微量元素与精神分裂症之间的关系。
通过简单随机抽样，招募了 70 名新诊断的精神分裂症患者（平均年龄=33.6±10.7 岁）和 60 名年龄匹配的健康对照者（平均年龄=34.2±7.9 岁）进行横断面研究。使用原子吸收分光光度计测量参与者和对照组的血浆 Zn、Cu、Mn 和 Se，使用电感耦合等离子体光学发射光谱法测量脚趾甲 Zn、Cu、Mn 和 Se。使用 PANSS 评分评估疾病严重程度。
精神分裂症患者的平均血浆 Zn、Cu 和 Mn 明显低于对照组（p<0.001），而血浆 Se 浓度明显高于对照组（p<0.001）。精神分裂症组的平均脚趾甲 Zn、Cu 和 Mn 浓度明显低于对照组（p<0.001），而精神分裂症组和对照组的平均脚趾甲 Se 水平相似。在逻辑回归中，低血浆 Zn（优势比=2.296，p<0.001）、Cu（p<0.001）、Mn（p<0.001）和 Se（p<0.001）水平与精神分裂症独立相关。血浆 Zn、Cu、Mn 和 Se 与 PANSS 评分的疾病严重程度之间没有显著关系。
Zn、Cu 和 Mn 水平低可能与精神分裂症的发病机制和进展有关。
