Zinc in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Zinc homeostasis plays a critical role in brain function and is increasingly linked to various psychopathologies.
• While zinc's role in depression is recognized, its involvement in schizophrenia remains under-investigated.
• Evidence suggests abnormal zinc transporters are associated with schizophrenia, necessitating further research into zinc levels in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the gap in understanding zinc's role in schizophrenia by conducting a meta-analysis of serum zinc concentrations.
• To compare serum zinc levels between individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and healthy control subjects.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed and Embase for studies published up to February 2018.
• Included studies reported serum zinc concentrations in both schizophrenia patients and comparison groups.
• A random-effects meta-analysis was employed to determine the weighted mean difference in serum zinc concentrations between the groups.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 10 studies, encompassing 658 patients with schizophrenia and 1008 controls.
• Serum zinc concentrations were found to be significantly lower in individuals with schizophrenia compared to controls (p < 0.05).
• The reduction in serum zinc was more pronounced in hospitalized patients and those newly diagnosed and not yet on medication.

Conclusions:

• The findings support a disturbance in zinc homeostasis in individuals with schizophrenia.
• The precise relationship between reduced serum zinc and psychotic symptoms requires further investigation.
• Altered serum zinc levels may be associated with impaired zinc transporters and/or inflammation affecting the brain's glutamatergic system.