CSF glutamate level decreases in heavy smokers and negatively correlates with BDI scores

Glutamate is involved in mental disorders and nicotine addiction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glutamate levels and mental status in Chinese heavy smokers. Participants comprised 41 non-smokers and 77 heavy smokers (n = 118). Cerebrospinal fluid was extracted and glutamate levels were measured. We recorded age, years of education, BMI, the Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). BIS action scores, total scores and BDI scores were significantly different between the groups. Partial correlation analyses with age and education years as covariates found that CSF glutamate levels negatively correlated with BDI scores, but did not correlate with SAS scores in heavy smokers. No correlation was found between CSF glutamate levels and BDI or SAS scores in non-smokers. In conclusion, heavy smokers had more impulsivity had lower levels of CSF glutamate and higher BDI scores. CSF glutamate levels negatively correlated with BDI scores in heavy smokers.