Plasma Total Thiols and Total Thiol/Albumin Ratio in Patients Suffering from Depression

Abstract

Introduction: Increased oxidative stress has been reported in patients who suffer from depressive disorders. Albumin acts as a target for plasma protein oxidation during oxidative stress. The plasma thiols act as significant in vivo antioxidants. Major SH-groups are found on the surface of albumin molecules. Since depressive disorders are related to oxidative stress. Only a few studies have been done that correlate plasma total thiols with major depressive disorder. The authors intended to draw a relationship between oxidative stress, thiols and major depressive disorder by estimating total plasma thiols and calculating the ratio of thiol/albumin. The study may throw some light in understanding whether the use of anti-oxidant supplements to counter oxidative stress in depressed patients. Aim: The aims was to estimate plasma thiols, albumin and obtain a plasma thiol/albumin ratio in people suffering from depression and compare the levels with the control group. Materials and Methods: This case control study was conducted in Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. Plasma thiols were estimated using Ellman’s method. Plasma albumin levels were estimated using Bromo-cresol green dye binding method. Mann- Whitney U test was used for analysing the data for total thiols and thiol/albumin ratio. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The study group was made up of 43 (22 males and 21 females) patients and the control group was made up of 40 (18 males and 22 females) healthy controls. Plasma thiol levels and the plasma total thiol/albumin ratio were significantly elevated (p-value=0.00036) in cases (depression) as compared to that of the controls. Conclusion: Plasma total thiols can be used as an early marker for understanding the risk for major depressive disorders and also be used as a prognostic indicator in the follow up of patients suffering from major depressive disorder who are under treatment.