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Increased oxidative stress and altered activities of erythrocyte free radical scavenging enzymes in autism

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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

There is great evidence in recent years that oxygen free radicals play an important role in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study was performed to assess the changes in red blood cells thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities in patients with autism (n = 27) compared to age- and sex-matched normal controls (n = 26). In the autistic group, increased TBARS levels (p < 0.001) and XO (p < 0.001) and SOD (p < 0.001) activity, decreased CAT (p < 0.001) activity and unchanged ADA activity were detected. It is proposed that antioxidant status may be changed in autism and this new situation may induce lipid peroxidation. These findings indicated a possible role of increased oxidative stress and altered enzymatic antioxidants, both of which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of autism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gaziantep Typ Fakultesi, Kolejtepe Binasi Cocuk ve Ergen Psikiyatrisi AD, Kolejtepe, 27200, Gaziantep, Turkey

    S. Salih Zoroglu & Ozer Yetkin

  2. Dept. of Biochemistry at Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey

    Ferah Armutcu & Ahmet Gurel

  3. Dept. of Psychiatry at Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakyr, Turkey

    Sakir Ozen

  4. Dept. of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep

    Ercan Sivasli

  5. Dept. of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey

    Iclal Meram

Authors
  1. S. Salih Zoroglu
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  2. Ferah Armutcu
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  3. Sakir Ozen
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  4. Ahmet Gurel
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  5. Ercan Sivasli
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  6. Ozer Yetkin
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  7. Iclal Meram
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Correspondence to S. Salih Zoroglu.

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Zoroglu, S.S., Armutcu, F., Ozen, S. et al. Increased oxidative stress and altered activities of erythrocyte free radical scavenging enzymes in autism. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 254, 143–147 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0456-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0456-7

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