Abstract

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition associated with several comorbid conditions such as physical illnesses like obesity, as well as co-occurring psychiatric symptoms such as depression. Research regarding susceptibility to some of these comorbidities has primary focused on genetic risks or neurotransmitters and very little work has been done to understand environmental factors such as diet. In particular, understanding the role of dietary glutamic acid consumption on co-morbidities in patients with schizophrenia is important, as evidence suggests that glutamic acid consumption may directly influence glutamatergic neurotransmission; a key neurotransmitter related to schizophrenia, its associated co-morbidities, and depression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between dietary glutamic acid and depressive symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia, stratified by obesity status, due to its relationship with inflammation, antipsychotic use, and depressive symptoms.Methods: Subjects included in this analysis, were part of a parent cross-sectional study in which included three dietary recalls analyzed using protocols outlined as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) standardized criteria. Additionally, body mass index (BMI), and Beck Depression Inventory were obtained at this visit. Subjects with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were included in the obesity group, and the relationship between glutamic acid consumption and BDI scores was analyzed after controlling for age, race, sex, antidepressant and antipsychotic use, and animal and vegetable protein intake which provide natural forms of dietary glutamic acid.Results: A total of 168 participants were included in this study, of which 42.5% were female and 52.9% were White. The mean BMI for the group as a whole was 33.5 ± 8.7 (kg/m2) and the mean BDI was 14.5 ± 10.2 (range 2–50). No differences were found between obesity groups, other than a greater hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and lower waist to hip ratio. Overall, no relationship was found between dietary glutamic acid and BDI scores, However, for non-obese participants, diets higher levels of glutamic acid were associated with greater depression symptomatology (p = 0.021).Conclusion: These preliminary results indicate a possible correlation between dietary glutamic acid a depressive symptoms in non-obese patients with schizophrenia, although further research is needed to specifically examine this relationship.

Highlights

  • Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition associated with several comorbid conditions such as physical illnesses like obesity, as well as co-occurring psychiatric symptoms such as depression

  • Antipsychotics, like olanzapine and clozapine, used for the treatment of psychotic symptoms seen in persons with schizophrenia, can attenuate hyperglutamateric states resulting in their therapeutic effect, while contributing to the occurrence of obesity and cardiovascular disease [6, 7]

  • There were no significant differences in mean dietary glutamic acid and mean vegetable protein, but the mean animal protein consumed was significantly higher in the obese group (∼58 grams) compared to the non—obese group (∼49 grams)

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Summary

Introduction

Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition associated with several comorbid conditions such as physical illnesses like obesity, as well as co-occurring psychiatric symptoms such as depression. The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between dietary glutamic acid and depressive symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia, stratified by obesity status, due to its relationship with inflammation, antipsychotic use, and depressive symptoms For those diagnosed with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, co-morbid psychiatric and physical illnesses are commonplace. The prevalence of depressive symptoms within this patient population is ∼40%, whereas the prevalence of obesity contributing to cardiovascular disease is upwards of 50% [1, 2] Why these conditions commonly co-occur is not fully understood, genetic risk factors as well as common neurotransmitter pathways, have been identified [3, 4]. Most work regarding glutamate’s role has come from data showing that ketamine, a NMDA acting medication, is effective in the treatment of refractory depression, the mechanisms this therapeutic effect is not fully known [8]

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