Serum zonulin levels are correlated with symptom severity independent from body mass index and gender in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Cetinkaya M., Kara H., Acikel B., Tuncer S. C.

KLINIK PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY, cilt.25, sa.2, ss.140-147, 2022 (ESCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 25 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5505/kpd.2022.74317
  • Dergi Adı: KLINIK PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.140-147
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Attention deficit, zonulin, children, intestinal, gut, INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: It has been recently emphasized that neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be related to the gut-brain axis. Zonulin is a protein that changes the integrity of tight junctions between gastrointestinal mucosa cells. We aimed to investigate serum zonulin levels and its relationship with symptom severity in children with ADHD. Method: 21 ADHD patients and 19 controls were included. Zonulin levels were obtained from blood specimens. Clinical severity of the ADHD symptoms was evaluated by Conner's Parents Rating Scale-Revised/Long Form (CPRS-R/L) and Conner's Teacher Rating Scale-Revised/Long Form (CTRS-R/L) in ADHD group. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, gender and body mass index. Mean serum zonulin level of the ADHD group was 13.45 +/- 9.08 and 21.32 +/- 19.96 in the control group. There was no significant difference between groups (t=1.99, p=0.51). Significant correlation was found (R=0.82, p<0.01) between serum zonulin levels and CTRS-R/L scores in the ADHD group. This correlation persisted when BMI and sex variables were controlled (R=0.85, p<0.01). Discussion: We have found significant correlation between ADHD symptom severity and serum zonulin levels, whereas there was no significant difference between children with ADHD and controls.