Body Fat Parameters, Glucose and Lipid Profiles, and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Schizophrenia Patients with or without Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

In this study, we aim to investigate associations between body fat parameters, glucose and lipid profiles, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid hormones (THs) levels in Tomsk-region schizophrenia patients depending upon the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). A total of 156 psychiatric inpatients with schizophrenia who had been treated with antipsychotics for at least six months before entry were studied: 56 with and 100 without MetS. Reference groups consisted of general hospital inpatients with MetS and without schizophrenia (n = 35) and healthy individuals (n = 35). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney U-test, chi-square test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, multiple regression analyses, and descriptive statistics. Patients with schizophrenia and MetS had significantly higher levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroxine (FT4) compared to schizophrenia patients without MetS (3.68 [3.25; 5.50] vs. 3.24 [2.81; 3.66], p = 0.0001, and 12.68 [10.73; 15.54] vs. 10.81 [9.76; 12.3], p = 0.0001, in pmol/L, respectively). FT3 maintained an association with MetS (p = 0.0001), sex (p = 0.0001), age (p = 0.022), and high-density lipoproteins (p = 0.033). FT4 maintained an association with MetS (p = 0.0001), sex (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.014), and glucose (p = 0.009). The data obtained showed body fat parameters, glucose and lipid profiles, and THs levels in Western-Siberian schizophrenia patients depending on MetS presence or absence.

Body fat volumes and distribution in chronic schizophrenia compared to healthy controls; a cross-sectional MR study

“…Strengths of our study include excluding any history of cardiometabolic disease, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and ischaemic heart disease. Our results contrast with studies using body impedance measures, which have reported significant increases (6) or decreases (7) in visceral body fat in schizophrenia. Differences in patient selection and matching, sample size, and differences in measurement technique may account for the differences in results.…”

“…MR studies have reported no significant difference in visceral fat content between cases and controls 3 (8-10), whereas studies using BIA have shown both increases (6) or decreases (7) in visceral fat in schizophrenia. However, studies measuring visceral fat using MRI tend not to measure total body fat content, and it is unclear whether these studies are able to detect differences in distribution at the whole body level in schizophrenia.…”

“…Few studies have investigated adipose tissue mass and distribution in schizophrenia. Some have used proxies, such as bioelectrical impedance (BIA) (6, 7), while others have used gold standard MR techniques (8-10) to visualise body fat distributions in cases and controls with conflicting results. MR studies have reported no significant difference in visceral fat content between cases and controls (8-10), whereas studies using BIA have shown both increases (6) or decreases (7) in visceral fat in schizophrenia.…”

“…Some have used proxies, such as bioelectrical impedance (BIA) (6, 7), while others have used gold standard MR techniques (8-10) to visualise body fat distributions in cases and controls with conflicting results. MR studies have reported no significant difference in visceral fat content between cases and controls (8-10), whereas studies using BIA have shown both increases (6) or decreases (7) in visceral fat in schizophrenia. However, studies measuring visceral fat using MRI tend not to measure total body fat content, and it is unclear whether these studies are able to detect differences in distribution at the whole body level in schizophrenia.…”

Genetic Polymorphisms of 5-HT Receptors and Antipsychotic-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction in Patients with Schizophrenia

“…Therefore, studying the contribution of 5-HT neurotransmission in the mechanisms of MetS can be considered a logical next step. However, due to the complex involvement of genuine metabolic as well as endocrine, immunological, and behavioral mechanisms [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ], body weight is also considered in this study.…”