ascorbic-acid and Anxiety-Disorders

Stress-related disorders, such as depression and anxiety, present marked deficits in behavioral and cognitive functions related to reward. These are highly prevalent disabling conditions with high social and economic costs. Furthermore, a significant percentage of affected individuals cannot benefit from clinical intervention, opening space for new treatments. Although the literature data have reported limited and variable results regarding oxidative stress-related endpoints in stress-related disorders, the possible neuroprotective effect of antioxidant compounds, such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), emerges as a possible therapy strategy for psychiatric diseases. Here, we briefly present background information on biological activity of ascorbic acid, particularly functions related to the CNS homeostasis. Additionaly, we reviewed the available information on the role of ascorbic acid in stress-related diseases, focusing on supplementation and depletion studies. The vitamin C deficiency is widely associated to stress-related diseases. Although the efficacy of this vitamin in anxiety spectrum disorders is less stablished, several studies showed that ascorbic acid supplementation produces antidepressant effect and improves mood. Interestingly, the modulation of monoaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems is postulated as pivotal target for the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of this vitamin. Given that ascorbic acid supplementation produces fast therapeutic response with low toxicity and high tolerance, it can be considered as a putative candidate for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, especially those that are refractory to current treatments. Herein, the literature was reviewed considering the potential use of ascorbic acid as an adjuvant in the treatment of anxiety and depression.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Ascorbic Acid; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Humans; Neuroprotective Agents; Stress, Psychological

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) treatment on the anxiety related behavioral and neurochemical alterations. AA (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to the mice and anxiety related behavior and levels of glutamate and nitrite in the brain of mice were determined. The results obtained revealed that the administration of AA (100 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the anxiety related behavior and the levels of nitrite in the brain of mice. Nitrergic interactions were further determined by the pretreatment of mice with nitric oxide (NO) modulator and AA treatment followed by behavioral and neurochemical measurements. The results obtained suggested that NO inhibition potentiated the anxiolytic like activity of AA in mice. It was also observed that the glutamate and nitrite level in the brain of mice were significantly reduced by the NO inhibitor pretreatment. Thus, the present study demonstrated the possible nitrergic pathways modulation in the anxiolytic like activity of AA in mice.

Topics: Affect; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Ascorbic Acid; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Disease Models, Animal; Glutamic Acid; Male; Maze Learning; Mice; Motor Activity; Nitrates; Nitrergic Neurons; Nitric Oxide; Signal Transduction

Scurvy is a nutritional disease caused by ascorbic acid deficiency and is potentially fatal. It was originally described in the 18th century by James Lind and associated with long sea voyages and insufficient citrus consumption. Its prevalence has declined markedly over the years but has still been described sporadically in certain countries. A 22-year-old woman with an anxiety disorder and anorexia nervosa, recent pregnancy and ongoing breast feeding, presented with a 10-day history of spontaneous haematomas in the lower limbs, gingivorrhagia and fatigue. The examination was remarkable for signs of minor bleeding without haemodynamic compromise, gonalgia and pale skin. Work-up studies revealed the presence of anaemia. Direct anamnesis identified a diet based solely of tea and carbohydrates due to distorted body image. With the working diagnosis of scurvy, nutritional support and oral vitamin C supplementation was initiated. Her symptoms and anaemia resolved in 30 days and the diagnosis was confirmed biochemically.

Topics: Adult; Anemia; Anorexia Nervosa; Anxiety Disorders; Ascorbic Acid; Breast Feeding; Diagnosis, Differential; Diet; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dietary Supplements; Fatigue; Female; Gingival Hemorrhage; Hematoma; Humans; Scurvy; Tea; Young Adult

The relationship between the elevated levels of serum malondialdehyde, depleted level of antioxidants (vitamin A, E and C) and altered level of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) in several psychiatric disorders has been established by various experimental evidences over the past few years. But previously no study was carried out to determine these components in patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in Bangladesh. This study was conducted to compare the serum concentration of these components in GAD patients and healthy volunteers; matched by socioeconomic and sociodemographic parameters. Serum level of malondialdehyde and vitamin C were determined by UV spectrophotometric method, vitamins A and E were detected by RP-HPLC method whereas immunoglobulin levels were determined by turbidimetric method. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, Pearson's correlation and regression analysis. Significantly lower level of vitamin E (p<0.05) and significantly higher level of vitamin C were found in GAD patients than the healthy controls, whereas the change of vitamin A was insignificant. Serum malondialdehyde content was significantly higher (p<0.05) and IgM level was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the controls. Change in concentrations of IgG and IgA were insignificant (p>0.05). Pearson's correlation coefficient suggested that there were some significant positive and negative correlations among these tested components. Our study reveals that GAD patients have considerably higher level of malondialdehyde, immunoglobulins and altered level of antioxidant vitamins. These findings may play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of GAD patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antioxidants; Anxiety Disorders; Ascorbic Acid; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Male; Malondialdehyde; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Vitamin A; Vitamin E; Vitamins; Young Adult

Magne-B6 was used, together with anticonvulsive therapy, in the treatment of 25 patients with different forms of epilepsy. In all cases, psychiatric status of patients featured by depression, anxiety and some psychotic sighs. The drug was prescribed in the mean therapeutic dose during 28 days. Along with psychopathologic examination, a psychometric method, using self-rating scales for Zung anxiety and depression scale, SCL-90 and Global clinical impression (CGI) scale, was administered. Magne-B6 exerted a positive non-specific influence on patient's mental state, especially with regard to affective disorders. The positive effect of the drug emerged on 14th day of the treatment and achieved a statistically significant level to 28th day. The medication was more effective in asthenic and subdepressive syndromes, in encephalopathic syndrome the efficacy was lower. The drug was well tolerated and did not cause any side effects.

Topics: Adult; Anxiety Disorders; Ascorbic Acid; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Depression; Drug Combinations; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Magnesium; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin B 6

Schizophrenic patients on the same hospital diet as control group subjects had significantly lower levels of fasting plasma vitamin C (p less than 0.05) and 6-hr urinary vitamin C excretion after an ascorbic acid load test (p less than 0.01). After administration of 70 mg of ascorbic acid for 4 weeks there was no longer any difference in plasma vitamin C levels between schizophrenics and control group subjects, but the urinary vitamin C excretion after the vitamin C loading test remained significantly lower in schizophrenics (p less than 0.05). The administration of 1 g ascorbic acid for 4 weeks, in addition to eliminating differences in the plasma vitamin C level, also increased the urinary vitamin C excretion of schizophrenic patients to the level of the control group subjects. The results of this study are in agreement with the hypothesis that schizophrenic patients require higher levels of vitamin C than the suggested optimal ascorbic acid requirement for healthy humans.

Topics: Adult; Anxiety Disorders; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Male; Nutritional Requirements; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology; Somatoform Disorders

Topics: Aniline Compounds; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Ascorbic Acid; Copper; Humans; Phenylenediamines; Schizophrenia