Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011570 (depression)
 172,036 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Correlation between anabolic and catabolic process in terms of neuroendocrine changes in depression has been studied before and after coaxil therapy. The index of catabolic processes was cortisol blood level and that of anabolic processes--dehydroepiandrosterone (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, DHEA-S) level. The total of 39 patients of middle age were studied: 25 of the study group treated with coaxil (37.5 mg/day during 4 weeks) and 14 of the comparison group treated with sertraline (50 mg/day during 4 weeks). A mean level of cortisol was higher than normal one in patients with depression. Coaxil and sertraline decreased the mean cortisol level, no significant differences being found between these drugs. There was negative correlation between the DHEA-S level and severity of depression before the treatment. Unlike sertraline, coaxil caused an increase of this parameter in patients with decreased DHEA-S level. The ratio cortisol/ DHEA-S decreased during the treatment with either coaxil or sertraline but in the former case it was more pronounced (p = 0.003). The authors considered the data obtained in the aspect of concept of allostasis--the ability of the organism to achieve changes (stress reaction).
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PMID:[Anabolic-catabolic balance in depression: an effect of coaxil]. 1711 74

Previous pre-clinical and clinical studies investigating the antidepressant potential of DHEA revealed conflicting results. In this study, the effects of exogenous DHEA on performance in the forced swimming test (FST) were examined in male and female Wistar rats in different phases of the estrous cycle. Furthermore, the effects of treatment and of the FST, on corticosterone and DHEA serum levels were investigated. Acute administration of DHEA (2 mg/kg) significantly increased freezing only in proestrus female rats. Similarly, the chronic administration of DHEA (2 mg/kg) increased freezing duration and decreased climbing behavior but only in females in diestrus II compared to those given vehicle. These results demonstrate that chronically administered DHEA induces a depressant-like effect, and this effect is sex dependent. There was no direct correlation between corticosterone levels or the corticosterone/DHEA ratio and the behaviors studied. After the FST, serum DHEA and corticosterone levels were increased, with females showing higher DHEA levels than males. Nevertheless, corticosterone levels were unaltered with chronic procedure; an effect that was independent of sex and treatment. These findings are relevant for research examining alternative treatment for depression and may elucidate the gender differences involved in stress-related diseases.
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PMID:Gender differences of acute and chronic administration of dehydroepiandrosterone in rats submitted to the forced swimming test. 1722 42

The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in plasma androgen levels (total testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), and dehydro-epiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S)) induced by oral contraceptive (OC) use were related to changes in sexual interest or response or in mood. Sixty-one women provided blood samples and were assessed, using interviews and standardized questionnaires, prior to starting, and after 3 months on OCs (Ortho-Tricyclen, Ortho-Tricyclen-Lo, or Ortho-Cyclen, all containing the same progestagen, norgestimate). Significant decreases in T, FT, and DHEA-S were found after 3 months, although the extent of reduction was variable across women. There was some support for a relationship between the degree of reduction in total T and FT and the frequency of sexual thoughts after 3 months on OCs. However, some women had no loss of sexual interest in spite of substantial reduction in FT, and there was overall no evidence that reduction in FT affected enjoyment of sexual activity with a partner. The findings are consistent with the idea that some women may be more sensitive to changes in T than others. No relationship was found between negative mood, as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory, and changes in T, FT, or DHEA-S.
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PMID:Does oral contraceptive-induced reduction in free testosterone adversely affect the sexuality or mood of women? 1731 12

The brain is a lipid-rich organ containing mostly complex polar phospholipids, sphingolipids, gangliosides and cholesterol. These lipids are involved in the structure and function of cell membranes in the brain. The glycerophospholipids in the brain contain a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. The main PUFA in the brain are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, all cis 4,7,10,13,16,19-22:6) derived from the omega 3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid (AA, all cis 5,8,11,14-20:4) and docosatetraenoic acid (all cis 7,10,13,16-22:4), both derived from the omega 6 fatty acid, linoleic acid. Experimental studies in animals have shown that diets lacking omega 3 PUFA lead to substantial disturbances in neural function, which in most circumstances can be restored by the inclusion of omega 3 PUFA in the diet. In the past 10 years there has been an emerging interest in treating neuropsychological disorders (depression and schizophrenia) with omega 3 PUFA. This paper discusses the clinical studies conducted in the area of depression and omega 3 PUFA and the possible mechanisms of action of these PUFA. It is clear from the literature that DHA is involved in a variety of processes in neural cells and that its role is far more complex than simply influencing cell membrane properties.
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PMID:Omega 3 fatty acids and the brain: review of studies in depression. 1739 37

Adrenal function and aging have been the object of intense interest recently, especially as regards dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), which is of major importance, since it is distinct from cortisol and aldosterone in declining with age. In a group of healthy old Tunisians, we investigated the association between cortisol and DHEA-S, on the one hand, and age, sex, lifestyle, physical health, including the body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and smoking indicators, on the other hand. We observed that cortisol concentrations did not change with aging, while DHEA-S concentrations decrease with age in both sexes. Cortisol/DHEA-S ratio, however, increases with aging. Our results revealed that DHEA-S levels are affected neither by physical activity nor by weight. It appears also that current smoking could not affect the level of DHEA-S. Relationships were found between DHEA-S concentrations and BMI, then between DHEA-S levels and serum cholesterol, triglycerides and calcium. No modification in the morning serum cortisol was found to be associated with aging. Decrease in DHEA-S levels is, however, clearly associated with this phenomenon. High cortisol/DHEA-S ratio accelerates the occurrence of some adult diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, dementia, and osteoporosis. Generally, the adrenal insufficiency marked by a cognitive impairment, immune disorders, sexual dysfunction, and scores for depression and anxiety can be corrected by a replacement of deficient DHEA-S.
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PMID:Hormonal status of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in an elderly Tunisian population. 1790 95

Low dietary intakes of the n-3 long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) EPA and DHA are thought to be associated with increased risk for a variety of adverse outcomes, including some psychiatric disorders. Evidence from observational and intervention studies for a role of n-3 LCPUFA in depression is mixed, with some support for a benefit of EPA and/or DHA in major depressive illness. The present study was a double-blind randomised controlled trial that evaluated the effects of EPA+DHA supplementation (1.5 g/d) on mood and cognitive function in mild to moderately depressed individuals. Of 218 participants who entered the trial, 190 completed the planned 12 weeks intervention. Compliance, confirmed by plasma fatty acid concentrations, was good, but there was no evidence of a difference between supplemented and placebo groups in the primary outcome - namely, the depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales at 12 weeks. Mean depression score was 8.4 for the EPA+DHA group and 9.6 for the placebo group, with an adjusted difference of - 1.0 (95 % CI - 2.8, 0.8; P = 0.27). Other measures of mood, mental health and cognitive function, including Beck Depression Inventory score and attentional bias toward threat words, were similarly little affected by the intervention. In conclusion, substantially increasing EPA+DHA intake for 3 months was found not to have beneficial or harmful effects on mood in mild to moderate depression. Adding the present result to a meta-analysis of previous relevant randomised controlled trial results confirmed an overall negligible benefit of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation for depressed mood.
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PMID:No effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (EPA and DHA) supplementation on depressed mood and cognitive function: a randomised controlled trial. 1876 99

This study attempts to detect potential associations between depression and adipose docosahexaenoic acid (c22:6 n-3) (DHA), a valid indicator for long-term dietary intake of DHA, in a profoundly religious group that strictly adheres to the Orthodox Christian Church (OCC) rituals and lifestyle. A total of 24 strict fasters and 27 control subjects were included in the study. The two study groups did not differ with regard to depressive symptoms distribution. Adipose tissue DHA was inversely associated with depression, while adherence to the OCC diet was strongly correlated with adipose DHA levels compared to controls. In conclusion, increased long-term dietary DHA intake was associated with decreased depression occurrence, whereas adherence to the OCC dietary recommendations, which allows for frequent fish and seafood consumption, was associated with increased adipose and dietary DHA levels, known for their essential role on optimal neuronal function and protection against a number of chronic diseases.
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PMID:Adipose DHA inversely associated with depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. 1825 21

Research has suggested that exposure to traumatic events can result in adverse health outcomes. However, the reasons for this are unclear. We examined psychobiologic factors associated with disease mortality among a community-based sample of 4462 male veterans 30 years after military service, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell (WBC) count, and cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (cortisol/DHEA-s) ratio. In the study, 56% (n = 2490) were theater veterans who served in Vietnam and 44% (n = 1972) era veterans who served elsewhere. During baseline in 1985, 10.2% of theater and 3.4% of era veterans had current PTSD. At follow-up in 2000, 13.6% of men with current baseline PTSD were deceased, compared with 5% without PTSD. Analyses suggested that having PTSD, a high ESR, a high WBC count, and a high cortisol/DHEA-s ratio at baseline were associated with all-cause disease mortality at follow-up. With the exception of cortisol/DHEA-s ratio, these factors also predicted cardiovascular mortality. Depression was not consistently associated with mortality, once other factors were controlled. Noteworthy was that having PTSD had an impact on mortality nearly comparable to common indicators of disease in medicine, such as an ESR >65 mm/h and a WBC count >11,000 mm(3). This study suggests that the morbidity associated with PTSD may be comparable to laboratory measures of disease pathology in common use and warrants further investigation and surveillance among at risk populations.
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PMID:Psychobiologic predictors of disease mortality after psychological trauma: implications for research and clinical surveillance. 1827 17

We evaluated the effect of DHEA complementary treatment in opiate addicts undergoing detoxification. DHEA (100 mg/day) or placebo was added to the routine medication protocol in a randomized, double blind controlled study. Follow-up for 12 months was conducted. Two separate DHEA-treated subgroups were identified by the Fuzzy clustering method: one showed statistically significant improvement in the severity of withdrawal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores (n=34; p<0.001 for all) and the other subgroup deteriorated in all measures (n=15). DHEA at the end of the detoxification program showed a tendency towards correlation with the duration of abstinence (r=0.6843; p>0.05; n=6), while a negative correlation was obtained with the cortisol level (r=-0.900; p=0.005, n=8). The completion-rate of the DHEA-improved subgroup was greater than in the DHEA-deteriorated subgroup (64.7% vs. 33.3%, respectively). The influence of supplementary DHEA treatment was mostly effective in heroin addicts who had not previously used either cocaine or benzodiazepines and who had experienced only few withdrawal programs.
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PMID:The effect of DHEA complementary treatment on heroin addicts participating in a rehabilitation program: a preliminary study. 1834 81

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate metabolite (DHEAS) are the major androgens secreted by the human adrenal gland. The decline in their production is the most characteristic age-related change in the adrenal cortex. This process, known as 'adrenopause' may contribute to the increased incidence of atherosclerosis, cancer, or dementia in older people. The possibility of using DHEA in management has attracted considerable attention over recent years. Whereas DHEA therapy seems to be effective in treating patients with adrenal insufficiency and systemic lupus erythematosus, clinical studies investigating the potential efficacy of DHEA therapy in multiple other disorders (Alzheimer disease, depression, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunctions) have not provided consistent results. Further research is also needed to better assess the efficacy and safety of DHEA supplementation in patients with advanced age. This review evaluates current understanding of physiology and pathology of DHEA production and summarizes the possible therapeutic value of this hormone.
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PMID:[Current views on the role of dehydroepiandrosterone in physiology, pathology and therapy]. 1863 57


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