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Evaluation of serum amino acids and non-enzymatic antioxidants in drug-naïve first-episode major depressive disorder
To examine the serum levels of amino acids and non-enzymatic antioxidants in major depressive disorder (MDD) and study its interaction with depression, Islam et al. (2020) gathered 247 patients with MDD and 248 healthy controls (HCs) matched by age and sex, and employed the HPLC system (for amino acids, vitamin A and E), UV-spectrophotometer (to assess vitamin C) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D, to measure severity of depression). It was revealed that subjects with MDD had significantly lower readings of the four amino acids (methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine) and of the three non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin A, E, and C), relative to healthy controls. In addition, lower methionine and tyrosine concentrations were linked with higher Ham-D scores. These findings suggest that lower methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels in the blood are connected with depression, and may have been a contributing factor in the development of major depression among MDD patients. [NPID: micronutrients, nutritional supplements, non-enzymatic antioxidants, major depressive disorder, MDD, depression, amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine]
Year: 2020
