Title:Peripheral Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Bipolar Disorder during Euthymia and in Siblings
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Author(s): Amparo Tatay-Manteiga, Vicent Balanzá-Martínez, Giovana Bristot, Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos, Flavio Kapczinski and Omar Cauli*
Affiliation:
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, Valencia,Spain
Keywords:
Bipolar disorder, oxidative stress, euthymia, anti-oxidants, biomarker, valproic acid, benzodiazepines.
Abstract: Aims: Oxidative stress is increased during the acute phases of bipolar disorder (BD). Our
aim here was to analyze oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with BD during euthymia and their
siblings.
Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in euthymic patients with BD-I (n=48), unaffected
siblings (n=23) and genetically unrelated healthy controls (n=21). Protein carbonyl content (PCC),
total antioxidant capacity (TRAP), lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and uric acid were measured as biomarkers
of oxidative stress in blood.
Results: The antioxidant capacity (TRAP) was lower (p<0.001) in patients with BD compared to their
siblings and controls, whereas no differences were observed in PCC, TBARS or uric acid. In patients,
the concentrations of TRAP and TBARS were positively associated with the dose of valproic acid
(p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). The concentrations of these biomarkers were not significantly
associated with any of socio-demographic and clinical variables.
Conclusion: A selective reduction in antioxidant capacity is present in BD during euthymia state,
whereas other markers of oxidative stress are unaltered during euthymia. Siblings did not show any
alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers. Oxidative stress might represent a state-dependent marker in
BD. The association between treatment with valproic acid and oxidative stress markers in euthymia
deserves further studies.