Oxidative stress markers, cognitive functions, and psychosocial functioning in bipolar disorder: an empirical cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress markers and cognitive functions and domains of psychosocial functioning in bipolar disorder. Methods: Oxidative stress markers, cognitive functions, and domains of psychosocial functioning were evaluated in 51 patients with bipolar disorder who were in remission. Correlation analyses between these parameters were calculated with data controlled for duration of illness and number of episodes.Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between oxidative stress markers and cognitive functions. In terms of psychosocial functioning, significant correlations were found between malondialdehyde and sense of stigmatization (r = -0.502); household activities and superoxide dismutase (r = 0.501); participation in social activities and nitric oxide (r = 0.414); hobbies and leisure time activities and total glutathione (r = -0.567), superoxide dismutase (r = 0.667), and neurotrophin 4 (r = 0.450); and taking initiative and self-sufficiency and superoxide dismutase (r = 0.597). There was no correlation between other domains of psychosocial functioning and oxidative stress markers. Conclusion: These results imply that oxidative stress markers do not appear to correlate clearly with cognitive impairment and reduced psychosocial functioning. However, there were some associations between selected oxidative markers and activity-oriented functional markers. This may represent a true negative association, or may be an artifact of oxidative stress being a state rather than a trait marker.

Current State of Biomarkers in Bipolar Disorder

“…Banerjee et al also found higher serum levels of lipid peroxidation in patients with BD using the TBARS method [23]. More recently, plasma MDA levels were found to be higher in patients with BD when compared to healthy controls [20]. Interestingly, another study by our group through multivariate multiple regression analyses revealed that LPH correlates with brain white matter abnormalities [24•], supporting that lipid peroxidation may be an important biomarker for BD.…”

“…Several studies reported that plasma/serum NO levels were found to be higher in patients with BD compared to healthy controls [20,25,26] and reduced in pretreated patients with BD [27]. These findings could support the use of this molecule as a potential biomarker; however, more studies are required to substantiate this hypothesis.…”

“…More recently, Kim et al found that increased oxidative and nitrosative modifications to dopamine-rich areas are present in the post-mortem PFC samples of patients with BD using immunohistochemistry and acceptor photobleaching Förster resonance energy transfer technique [19]. Another recent study reported that serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, an endogenous antioxidant enzyme, were lower in patients with BD when compared to healthy controls [20]. Therefore, these findings suggest that oxidative damage to proteins could be important to the physiopathology of BD; however, less evidence has been found to support the use of protein alterations as a specific biomarker.…”

Reduced endogenous urinary total antioxidant power and its relation of plasma antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase in individuals with autism spectrum disorder

“…Moreover, in the ASD group, the plasma SOD levels were significantly correlated with the communication and total scores. Of reference, previous studies have reported significant correlations between blood levels of SOD and psychosocial functioning such as “relation to friends”, “taking initiative and self‐sufficiency” and “hobbies and leisure activities” in 51 subjects with bipolar depression (Aydemir et al, 2014). Significant correlations have also been established between brain SOD levels and social defeat in rat (Patki et al, 2013).…”

The role of imbalance between urinary hexanoyl-lysine and total antioxidant capacity levels and its relation to plasma superoxide dismutase levels in autism spectrum disorder

“…The Spearman correlation coefficient also revealed a significant association between plasma SOD levels and the SRS subscale of communication. A previous study reported significant correlations between blood levels of SOD and psychosocial functioning such as "relation to friends" and "taking initiative and self-sufficiency" in 51 subjects with bipolar depression [63]. Social interaction-mediated lifespan extension of SOD mutants has been found in human [64].…”