
Age and Gender Related Changes in Total Antioxidant Response and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Schizophrenia
627-633
Correspondence
Dr. Uma Devi P, e-mail: umadevipongiya@rediffmail.com
This study aims to measure total antioxidant response (TAR) and total peroxides (TP) in schizophrenia patients using the ferric reducing activity of plasma (FRAP), and to evaluate their relationship with oxidative stress. The effect of age, gender and severity on the levels of these total antioxidants-oxidants in the selected subjects were analyzed. We measured the plasma total antioxidant potential and total peroxides in 60 schizophrenia patients and in 60 well-matched non-schizophrenic control subjects. Oxidative stress has been implicated to play a major role in aging. Total antioxidant capacity/total peroxide of the clinical samples was measured using the latest spectrophotometric measurement method. Results showed that Plasma TAR was found to be lower in patients with schizophrenia than in those of the control group. On the contrary, the patients had high total plasma peroxide levels. Oxidative stress index (OSI) values of the patients were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.001). Total peroxide levels were found significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the elderly subjects, as compared to the young and adult population; in addition, TAR was higher in young and adults, than in the elderly people (p < 0.001). We also found more oxidative stress in schizophrenic males than in schizophrenic females (P > 0.01). This study indicates that schizophrenia is associated with increased oxidative stress and depleted antioxidant status in elderly people, and the clinical utility of antioxidants needs to be further evaluated in schizophrenia patients.