The relationship between antioxidant vitamins and mental disorders: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Mental disorders are increasingly linked to oxidative stress.
• Antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E possess known antioxidant properties.
• The precise relationship between antioxidant vitamin status and mental health conditions requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare dietary and blood levels of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, and schizophrenia (SZ) against healthy controls.
• To investigate potential causal relationships between these antioxidant vitamins and mental health conditions using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis was conducted comparing vitamin A, C, and E levels (dietary and blood) between patient groups and controls.
• Mendelian randomization (MR) post-meta-analysis was employed to assess causality.
• Statistical analyses included standardized mean differences (SMD) and confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

• Patients with depression showed significantly lower dietary intake of vitamins A, C, E, and carotenoids compared to controls.
• Depression patients also exhibited decreased blood levels of vitamins A, C, and E.
• Schizophrenia patients demonstrated reduced blood levels of vitamins C and E.
• No significant differences in antioxidant vitamin levels were observed in patients with ADHD or ASD.
• MR analysis indicated a causal relationship between schizophrenia and vitamin C.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with depression exhibit deficiencies in dietary and blood levels of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E.
• Patients with schizophrenia present with lower blood levels of vitamins C and E.
• The findings highlight the potential role of antioxidant vitamins in the mental health of depression and schizophrenia patients.