Oxidative metabolism, oxidative dna damage and urotensin ii levels among adult attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder patients

Objective: According to the previous studies, it has been noted many times that oxidative balance is disrupted in adult attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (A-ADHD). However, we could not find any research investigating the Urotensin-II (U-II) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels and their relationship between with oxidative metabolism among A-ADHD patients in the literature and we aimed to study this relationship. Method: Thirty six patients diagnosed as A-ADHD according to DSM-5 and 32 healthy controls enrolled into the study. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), 8-OHdG, U-II and oxidative stress index (OSI) measurements were done in biochemistry laboratory of Gaziantep University. Results: There were no difference regarding TAS and U-II levels between patient and control groups (p=0.88 and p=0.23 respectively). Even though TOS and OSI levels of patients tend to be higher in patient group, there were no statistically significant difference (p=0.09 and p=0.09 respectively). Levels of 8-OHdG were significantly higher in patient group (p=0.042). According to the correlation analysis, 8-OHdG levels were found to have a strong linear correlation in the positive direction with TAS (r=0.599, p=0.001). Conclusion: Studies about oxidative stress in A-ADHD are relatively rare when comapared with other psychiatric disorders. Although not statistically significant but increased TOS and OSI levels and similar TAS levels in ADHD patients when compared with controls supports the results of majority of previous studies and one meta-analysis. Increased levels of 8-OHdG seems not a specific finding of A-ADHD, rather it may be related with the chronic nature of the disease and increased exposure of A-ADHD patients to the oxidant effect of environmental factors more than their peers. U-II might not be included directly in the pathogenesis of A-ADHD but this study should be repeated with a greater number of patients. This is the first study evaluating the 8-OHdG and U-II levels among ADHD patients therefore make it can contribute to the literature.