The Role of Butyric Acid in Treatment Response in Drug-Naïve First Episode Schizophrenia.

Xue Li,Xiaoduo Fan,Lijuan Pang,Yunpeng Wang,Xueqin Song,Shaohua Hu,Xufeng Huang,Xiuxia Yuan

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.724664

Abstract

Background: Butyric acid, a major short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), has an important role in the microbiota–gut–brain axis and brain function. This study investigated the role of butyric acid in treatment response in drug-naïve first episode schizophrenia.Methods: The study recruited 56 Chinese Han schizophrenia inpatients with normal body weight and 35 healthy controls. Serum levels of butyric acid were measured using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis at baseline (for all participants) and 24 weeks after risperidone treatment (for patients). Clinical symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) for patients at both time points.Results: At baseline, there was no significant difference in serum levels of butyric acid between patients and healthy controls (p = 0.206). However, there was a significant increase in serum levels of butyric acid in schizophrenia patients after 24-week risperidone treatment (p = 0.030). The PANSS total and subscale scores were decreased significantly after 24-week risperidone treatment (p's < 0.001). There were positive associations between baseline serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction ratio of the PANSS total and subscale scores after controlling for age, sex, education, and duration of illness (p's < 0.05). Further, there was a positive association between the increase in serum levels of butyric acid and the reduction of the PANSS positive symptoms subscale scores (r = 0.38, p = 0.019) after controlling for potential confounding factors.Conclusions: Increased serum levels of butyric acid might be associated with a favorable treatment response in drug-naïve, first episode schizophrenia. The clinical implications of our findings were discussed.

Highlights

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling neuropsychiatric disorder that affects ∼1% of the world population and imposes an enormous burden on society [1, 2]
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main metabolites produced by gut microbiota, are believed to play a key role in microbiota–gut–brain crosstalk [6]
There was no significant difference between the two groups in serum levels of butyric acid (p = 0.206) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling neuropsychiatric disorder that affects ∼1% of the world population and imposes an enormous burden on society [1, 2]. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main metabolites produced by gut microbiota, are believed to play a key role in microbiota–gut–brain crosstalk [6]. Studies have suggested that butyrate may have a beneficial role in several neuropsychiatric conditions such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, autism, and schizophrenia [11,12,13]. Recent studies have showed that abnormal fecal butyrate levels may play an important role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [17, 18]. The purpose of our study was to examine the role of butyric acid in treatment response in patients with drug-naïve, first episode schizophrenia. A major short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), has an important role in the microbiota–gut–brain axis and brain function. This study investigated the role of butyric acid in treatment response in drug-naïve first episode schizophrenia

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Conclusion