Evaluation of serum natural antioxidant levels in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder

Abstract

Aims: Evidence for the role of oxidative stress in psychiatric disorders is growing. This study aimed to evaluate laboratory parameters related to oxidative stress, such as uric acid, albumin, and total bilirubin, which can be easily measured in serum in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder, and to compare them with healthy controls. Methods: The study included 221 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder according to DSM-5 criteria and 104 healthy individuals. The patient and control groups were compared in terms of serum uric acid, albumin, and total bilirubin values. Results: A statistically significant difference was in uric acid levels among the schizophrenia group, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and the control group (p<0.001 for all). Similarly, significant differences were identified between the patient groups and the control group in terms of albumin levels (p= 0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Total bilirubin levels also exhibited significant differences between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, schizoaffective disorder and control group, and bipolar disorder and the control group (p<0.04, p= 0.007, p= 0.044, respectively). Conclusion: Patients differed from controls in terms of serum natural antioxidants. The findings in our study support a causal relationship between schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder and uric acid, albumin, and total bilirubin.