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Objective: Schizophrenia is a deteriorating disorder resulting in decreased life quality. Accumulative data point out the importance of free radicals in schizophrenia. Some studies also suggest a contribution of antioxidants to the outcome of schizophrenia. In the human body, lipid peroxidation is one of the major sources of oxidative stress. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) is the end product of lipid peroxidatio and can be used as a marker of oxidative stress. Previous literature points to the existence of an increase in MDA levels in schizophrenic patients. However, results have been reported to be heterogeneous. Seasonal variations are predicted to be causing this heterogeneity.
Methods: Our study is comparing MDA levels of schizophrenia patients using typical, atypical and combined antipsychotics and healthy controls. 41 patients and 43 healthy controls participated in the study. The number of patients taking typical, atypical and combined antipsychotics was 11, 19, and 11, respectively. Plasma MDA levels were determined using the Draper and Hadley method based on the reaction of MDA with thiobarbituric acid (TBA) at 95°C. In the TBA test reaction, MDA and TBA react to form a pink pigment with an absorption maximum at 532 nm.
Results: According to our results, plasma MDA levels of patients using typical antipsychotics, atypical antipsychotics, combined antipsychotics and healthy controls were 6.6, 4.5, 5.6 and 3.9, respectively. MDA levels were higher in the patient group than in healthy controls but the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: We did not find a significant difference between the groups. Previous data denote controversial results. McCreadie et al. did not find any significant difference between first episode schizophrenia patients and controls. Although some studies report increased lipid peroxidation in schizophrenia patients, according to a meta-analysis, the MDA level increase is consistent but not universal in schizophrenia. Future studies should be performed in more homogeneous and larger samples, keeping in mind that MDA levels show seasonal changes.