Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oxidative stress

Aim: Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in childhood, limited information about its etiology and pathophysiology increases the interest in the disease. Biochemical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors have been accepted in the aetiology of ADHD, but recent studies have investigated the relationship between ADHD and oxidative stress in children and adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stress parameters in the etiology of ADHD. Methods: 53 ADHD patients between 6 and 18 years-old without current or previous psychiatric disease history who have been firstly diagnosed and haven't taken any medical treatment and 55 healthy children as control enrolled to study. Neuropsychiatric tests were performed and patients were evaluated with semi-structured scales.Venous blood samples were obtained from both patients and controls. Among oxidant parameters Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Paraoxonase1 (PON1) , Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) levels were measured in serum levels and Oxidant Status İndex (OSI) was calculated. Results: The study included 13 (24.5%) female and 40 (75.5%) male patients, totaling 53. The mean age of the patients was 10.13 ± 2.617. TAS was significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.0001). Serum PON1 levels were higher in patients than in controls, but this was not statistically significant. No significant difference was found between TOS and OSI levels. There was no significant change in serum PON1 levels. A statistically significant decrease was found in TOS values after treatment. There was no significant change in the oxidative stress index. CONCLUSION: In this study, a higher mean of TAS compared to the control group and a statistically significant decrease in TOS after treatment may suggest an impaired oxidative stress balance in ADHD cases and inadequate response of the antioxidant system. Because of the contradictory results of the studies conducted so far and the lack of full consensus, more animal and clinical studies are needed in this area related to psychiatric disorders. Key words: Adolescence, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oxidative Stress