Role of antioxidants in generalised anxiety disorder and depression

Abstract

Background:Anxiety and depression form commonest stress-induced psychiatric disorders. To combat the biochemical changes which occur as a result of stress, there is antioxidant defence in the biological system. Secondary defence is by the nonenzymatic antioxidants like vitamins E (alphatocopherol), C (ascorbic acid), and β-carotene. Therefore, the authors interest was aroused to examine the status of these antioxidants in the biological system of patients suffering from stress-induced psychiatric disorders.Aims:This study was carried out to find out whether patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression have any difference in blood serum levels of vitamins A (β-carotene), C, and E in comparison to the normal healthy control group and whether supplementation of adequate doses of vitamins A (β-carotene), C, and E leads to improvement in anxiety and depression and reduction in scores of the patients.Materials and Methods:Eighty subjects in the age group of 20–60 years, who attended a psychiatric clinic of a private hospital and who met inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study and consented for psychological evaluation and blood screening to find out the serum levels of vitamins A, C, and E, were included in the study. Approval was sought from the institutional ethics committee for collecting the blood sample of these subjects before and after vitamins A, C, and E supplements given for a period of 6 weeks.Statistics Analysis:It was observed that patients with GAD and depression had significantly lower levels of vitamins A, C, and E in comparison to healthy controls. After dietary supplementation of these vitamins for a period of 6 weeks, a significant reduction in anxiety and depression scores of patients was observed (P<0.001). A significant increase in the blood levels of antioxidants was observed in patients (P<0.05) except that of vitamin E in the group of depressed patients.Results and Conclusion:The findings suggest that antioxidant supplement therapy as an adjuvant therapy is useful in patients with stress-induced psychiatric disorders and the results have been discussed.

Oxidative Stress and Major Depression

“…The increased oxidative stress maintained by different antioxidant system (ascorbic acid, vitamin-E, SOD and so forth) and this antioxidants status altered in different uncontrolled disease condition [29][30][31][32]. Ascorbic acid, an antioxidant, has negative correlation with the major depression is a finding well-established [33]. Even in the present scenario ascorbic acid has been found to be effective in the mouse model of depression [34].…”

Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview

“…Oral supplementation of vitamin C with antipsychotic reverses AA levels, reduces oxidative stress, and improves BPRS score, hence both the drugs in combination can be used in the treatment of schizophrenia [225]. The findings of another study suggest that antioxidant supplement therapy as an adjuvant therapy is useful in patients with stressinduced psychiatric disorders [226]. There are also reports advocating beneficial effect of vitamin C in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease.…”

Evaluation of Anti-Anxiety Effect of Brassica oleracea L. Extracts in Experimental Animals

“…Polyphenols, flavonoids, specific foods and diets rich in antioxidants have been shown to improve antioxidant status and have anxiolytic effects. 7,9 Plant extracts, which contain phenolic constituents mainly flavonoids, have shown beneficial effects on mental health. Extracts of plants like Pulsatilla nigricans, 40 Tephrosia purpuria, 41 Coriandrum sativum, 42 Gastrodia elata, 43 Citrus paradisi 44 contain flavonoids and possess antianxiety activity.…”

“…6 Studies have revealed that antioxidants have a key role as an adju-vant therapy in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and depression. 7 Flavonoids are reported to be potent antioxidants. [8][9][10] Many plants containing flavonoids are reported to possess anxiolytic potential.…”