scholarly journals Vitamin B6 Supplementation Reduces Depression in College Women Taking Oral Contraceptives: A Randomized, Double-Blind Cross-Over Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1813-1813
Author(s):  
Carol Johnston ◽  
Anne Curtin

Abstract Objectives Oral contraception (OC) use has been linked to an increased risk of depression in college women and to poor micronutrient status. Of note, when compared to non-OC users, OC users have a heightened risk of low plasma concentrations of vitamin B6, a cofactor in the tryptophan-serotonin pathway critical to mood regulation. The purpose of this crossover study was to determine whether vitamin B6 supplementation impacted mood states and depression in college women using OC. Methods Participants were healthy and between 18–25 y, did not smoke or use dietary supplements, and used OC (estrogen with progestin) consistently for at least one year prior to the start of the study. The 12-week, randomized, double-blind crossover trial (4-week treatment periods [B6: 100 mg/d or control: placebo pill/d] separated by a 4-week washout [no pills taken]) was approved by the university Institutional Review Board, and participants provided written consent. Anthropometric measures, blood sampling, and diet and mood assessments were completed at the start of the trial and at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Participants (n = 8) maintained normal exercise and eating patterns the duration of the study and recorded pill consumption daily. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess affect. Plasma pyridoxal 5′ phosphate (PLP) concentrations were quantified by enzymatic assay. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess treatment effects. Results Plasma PLP concentrations averaged 66 ± 32 nmol/L at the start of the trial; one participant presented with marginal vitamin B6 status (20–30 nmol/L). Average vitamin B6 intakes did not vary during the trial (1.2–1.4 mg/d); whereas, vitamin B6 status rose significantly following the B6 supplementation period compared to the other three timepoints. POMS scores were not impacted by treatment; however, Beck Depression Inventory scores were reduced 30% by B6 supplementation in comparison to the control treatment (P = 0.047). Conclusions These preliminary data support a growing literature suggesting the benefits of B6 supplementation for reducing depression in young women using OC. Funding Sources This study was supported in part by the Graduate and Professional Students Association and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.

Author(s):  
Sai Sindhu Thangaraj ◽  
Helle Charlotte Thiesson ◽  
Per Svenningsen ◽  
Jane Stubbe ◽  
Yaseelan Palarasah ◽  
...  

Kidney transplantation is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) mediates kidney injury. Aldosterone promotes T-helper-17 (Th-17) lymphocyte differentiation and IL-17A production through the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). In this exploratory, post-hoc substudy, it was hypothesized that 1-year intervention with the MR antagonist spironolactone lowers IL-17A and related cytokines and reduces epithelial injury in kidney transplant recipients. Plasma and urine samples were obtained from kidney transplant recipients from a double-blind randomized clinical trial testing spironolactone (n=39) versus placebo (n=41). Plasma concentrations of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-17A, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 were determined before and after 1-year treatment. Urine calbindin, clusterin, KIM-1, osteoactivin, TFF3, and VEGF/creatinine ratios were analyzed. Blood pressure and plasma aldosterone concentration at inclusion did not relate to plasma cytokines and injury markers. None of the cytokines changed in plasma after spironolactone intervention. Plasma IL-17A increased in the placebo group. Spironolactone induced an increase in plasma K+ (0.4 ± 0.4 mmol/L). This increase did not correlate with plasma IL-17A or urine calbindin and TFF3 changes. Ongoing treatment at inclusion with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor and/or angiotensin II receptor blockers was not associated with changed levels of IL-17A and injury markers and had no effect on the response to spironolactone. Urinary calbindin and TFF3 decreased in the spironolactone group with no difference in between-group analyses. In conclusion, irrespective of ongoing ANGII inhibition, spironolactone has no effect on plasma IL-17A and related cytokines or urinary injury markers in kidney transplant recipients.


2020 ◽  
pp. 026988112092667
Author(s):  
Anna Borissova ◽  
Bart Ferguson ◽  
Matthew B Wall ◽  
Celia JA Morgan ◽  
Robin L Carhart-Harris ◽  
...  

Background: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is being actively researched as an adjunct to psychotherapy. It may be beneficial to trust, empathy and cooperative behaviour due to its acute prosocial effects. Aim: To test (a) the acute effects of MDMA on measures of empathy, trust and cooperative behaviour, and (b) subacute changes in mood three days after MDMA administration. Methods: Twenty-five participants ( n=7 female), participated in this double-blind, repeated-measures, placebo-controlled experiment. Participants attended two acute sessions, one week apart. Each acute session was followed by a subacute session three days later. Participants received placebo (100 mg ascorbic acid) during one acute session, and MDMA (100 mg MDMA-HCl) at the other, with order counterbalanced. Participants completed the following tasks assessing prosocial behaviour: a trust investment task, a trustworthy face rating task, an empathic stories task, a public project game, a dictator game and an ultimatum game. Participants reported subjective effects. Blood was taken pre-drug, 2 and 4 hours post-drug, and tested for plasma MDMA levels. Results: MDMA acutely increased self-reported ‘closeness to others’ and ‘euphoria’ and increased plasma concentrations of MDMA. MDMA did not significantly change task-based empathy, trust or cooperative behaviour. Using Bayesian analyses, we found evidence that MDMA and placebo did not differ in their effects on empathy and cooperative behaviour. MDMA did not significantly change subacute mood and this was supported by our Bayesian analyses. Conclusion: Despite augmentation in plasma MDMA levels and subjective drug effects, we found no increase in prosocial behaviour in a laboratory setting.


2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott C. Forbes ◽  
Gordon J. Bell

l-arginine (2-amino-5-guanidinovaleric acid) is a conditionally essential amino acid. Intravenous (IV) administration of l-arginine invokes a large metabolic (nitrate/nitrite (NOx)) and hormonal (growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and insulin) response; however, research examining oral l-arginine supplementation is conflicting, potentially owing to dose. The purpose of this study was examine a low and high dose of oral l-arginine on blood l-arginine, NOx, GH, IGF-1, and insulin response. Fourteen physically active males (age: 25 ± 5 years; weight: 78.0 ± 8.5 kg; height: 179.4 ± 4.7 cm) volunteered to be in a randomized, double-blind, repeated-measures study. Following an overnight fast, an IV catheter was placed in a forearm vein and a resting blood sample was drawn at ∼0800 hours. Each subject was then provided 1 of 3 treatment conditions (placebo, low (0.075 g·kg–1 of body mass), or high (0.15 g·kg–1 of body mass of l-arginine)). Blood samples were drawn at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min after consumption. l-arginine plasma concentrations significantly increased (p < 0.001) to a similar level at any time point in both the low- and high-dose conditions; there was no change over time in the placebo condition. There was no significant difference between conditions for NOx, GH, IGF-1, or insulin. Based on these findings, a low dose of l-arginine was just as effective at increasing plasma l-arginine concentrations as a high dose; however, neither dose was able to promote a significant increase in NOx, GH, IGF-1, or insulin at rest.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-70
Author(s):  
Cynthia Siu ◽  
Andrei Pikalov ◽  
Michael Tocco ◽  
Antony Loebel

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone in the treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar depression presenting with mixed features.MethodsPatients 10 to 17 years of age, inclusive, with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of bipolar I depression, were randomized to 6 weeks of double-blind treatment with once-daily, flexible doses of lurasidone 20-80 mg or placebo. The presence of mixed features (subthreshold hypomanic symptoms) was defined as a YMRS score > 5 at study baseline. Efficacy analyses included change from baseline to week 6 in Children Depression Rating Scale, Revised (CDRS-R) score (the primary outcome), and Clinical Global Impressions, Bipolar Severity of Depression Score (CGI-BP-S), using mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM) analysis.ResultsAt baseline, mixed features were present in 54.2% of patients (lurasidone, n=97/173; placebo, n=89/170). Treatment with lurasidone (vs placebo) was associated with significantly greater reductions in CDRS-R scores at week 6 in the mixed features group (-21.5 vs -15.9; P<0.01; effect size, 0.45), and in the group without mixed features (-20.4 vs -14.8; P<0.01; effect size, 0.45). Likewise, lurasidone was associated with greater effect size (vs placebo) for reductions inCGI-BP-S scores at week 6 in the mixed features group (-1.6 vs -1.1; P<0.001; effect size 0.57), and in the group without mixed features (-1.3 vs -1.0; P=0.05; effect size 0.30). Rates of protocol-defined treatment-emergent hypomania or mania were similar for lurasidone and placebo in patients with mixed features(lurasidone 8.2% vs. placebo 9.0%) and without mixed features (lurasidone 1.3% vs. placebo 3.7%).ConclusionsIn this post-hoc analysis, lurasidone was found to be efficacious for treating child and adolescent patients with bipolar depression presenting with mixed features(assessed cross-sectionally at study baseline). There was no increased risk of treatment-emergent mania observed in patients with or without mixed features.Funding AcknowledgementsSunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-103
Author(s):  
Robert Goldman ◽  
Lenard Adler ◽  
Thomas Spencer ◽  
Robert Findling ◽  
Seth C. Hopkins ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesOnce-daily dosing with dasotraline, a novel dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, achieves stable plasma concentrations over 24 hours with once-daily dosing. This study evaluated dasotraline in children aged 6–12 years (NCT02428088).MethodsPatients were randomized 1:1:1 to 6 weeks of once-daily, fixed-dose dasotraline 2 or 4 mg/day, or placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline (CFB) at Week 6 in ADHD Rating Scale Version IV – Home Version (ADHD RS-IV HV) total score, using a mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM) in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Secondary endpoints included Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score and safety endpoints.ResultsThe mean age of 342 randomized patients was 9.1 [SD: 1.9] years; 66.7% were male. Overall, 79% of patients completed the study. In the ITT population (N=336), ADHD RS-IV HV total score improved significantly with dasotraline 4 mg/day vs placebo(least squares [LS] mean [SE] CFB at Week 6: –17.53 [±1.31] vs –11.36 [±1.29], respectively, p<0.001; effect size [ES]: 0.48). Inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale scores significantly improved with 4 mg/day vs placebo at Week 6 (p=0.001, p=0.003, respectively). Improvement in CGI-S score was statistically significant with dasotraline 4 mg/day vs placebo(LS mean [SE] CFB at Week 6: –1.39 [±0.12] vs –1.04 [±0.12], respectively, p=0.040; ES: 0.29). No significant improvement was observed on the ADHD RS-IV HV total score and the CGI-S score for dasotraline 2 mg/day vs placebo. The most frequent treatment-emergent AEs (≥5% and higher than placebo) were (2 mg/day; 4 mg/day; placebo): insomnia (15.3%; 21.7%; 4.3%, all terms combined), decreased appetite (12.6%; 21.7%; 5.2%), weight loss (5.4%; 8.7%; 0%), irritability (3.6%; 7.0%; 6.0%), nasopharyngitis (0.9%; 5.2%; 0.9%), and nausea (0%; 5.2%; 2.6%).ConclusionsCompared with placebo, dasotraline 4 mg/day significantly improved ADHD symptoms in children, as assessed by ADHD RS-IV HV total score and inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale scores. Dasotraline was generally well tolerated; most common AEs were insomnia, decreased appetite, weight loss and irritability.Funding AcknowledgementsStudy sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1385-1393 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH P. McEVOY ◽  
JACKIE JOHNSON ◽  
DIANA PERKINS ◽  
JEFFREY A. LIEBERMAN ◽  
ROBERT M. HAMER ◽  
...  

Background. We report here a study examining the relationships between insight and psychopathology, cognitive performance, brain volume and co-morbid depression in 251 patients experiencing a first episode of psychosis, who were then randomly assigned to 2 years of double-blind treatment with either olanzapine or haloperidol.Method. Repeated measures of insight were obtained at baseline and 12, 24, 52 and 104 weeks by the Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire (ITAQ).Results. Older age, female gender and white ethnicity were associated with more insight. Higher total, positive, negative and general psychopathology scores on the Positive and Negative Syndromes Scale (PANSS) were associated with less insight. Higher depression scores were associated with more insight. Better neurocognitive function and large brain volumes were associated with more insight. More insight throughout the study was associated with longer time to medication non-adherence. However, baseline insight was not significantly related to the probability of discontinuing the study before 2 years. Insight improved significantly over the course of the study, but the improvement in insight was not significantly different between the two antipsychotic treatment groups.Conclusions. Multiple factors contribute to insight. Patients experiencing a first episode of psychosis who have little insight are at increased risk of discontinuing their medication.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradford Navia ◽  
James I. Hudson ◽  
Susan L McElroy ◽  
Anna I. Guerdjikova ◽  
Ling Deng ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesBinge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the US, with a lifetime prevalence of 2.8%. Disturbances in reward circuitry have been implicated in its pathogenesis. Dasotraline is a novel and potent dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with slow absorption and a long half-life resulting in stable plasma concentrations over 24 hours with once-daily dosing. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of flexibly-dosed dasotraline (4, 6, and 8 mg/day) vs placebo in adults with moderate to severe BED over a 12-week period (NCT02564588).MethodsKey inclusion criteria included moderate to severe BED based on a history of ≥2 binge eating days/week for ≥6 months prior to screening, and ≥3 binge eating days for each of2 weeks prior to randomization, as documented in participant’s binge eating diary. Patients were randomized 1:1 to flexibly-dosed dasotraline (4, 6, 8 mg/day) or placebo. Theprimary endpoint was change from baseline (CFB) in the number of binge eating days per week at Week 12. Key secondary endpoints were: CFB in Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S) Scale at Week 12; CFB in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Binge Eating (YBOCS-BE) at Week 12; and the percentage ofsubjects with a 4-week cessation from binge eating prior to Week 12 or end of treatment (EOT). Except for 4-week cessation, the other three variables were analyzed using amixed model for repeated measures (MMRM).Results317 subjects (84% female) received ≥1 dose of study medication (mean age was 38.2 years; mean number of binge eating days per week, 4.25; mean CGI-S score, 4.5; mean BMI, 34.7). The MMRM analysis of CFB at Week 12 in the number of binge days/week yielded a significant mean difference of –0.99 (95% CI: –0.65 to –1.33; p<0.001) infavour of dasotraline (–3.74 in the dasotraline group vs –2.75 in the placebo group). All three key secondary endpoints were met at Week 12 or EOT: 46.5% of subjects in thedasotraline group achieved at least 4 consecutive weeks’ cessation from binge eating vs 20.6% in the placebo group (p<0.001); CFB in CGI-S and YBOCS-BE scores were also statistically significant in favour of dasotraline (p<0.001). The treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) that occurred more frequently with dasotraline vs placebo at >2% incidence included: insomnia (44.6% vs 8.1%), dry mouth (27.4% vs 5.0%), decreased appetite (19.7% vs 6.9%), anxiety (17.8% vs 2.5%), nausea (12.7% vs 6.9%) and decreased body weight (12.1% vs 0%). Discontinuation due to AEs occurred in 11.5% of patients taking dasotraline vs 2.5% taking placebo.ConclusionsIn adults with moderate to severe BED, there were highly significant and clinically meaningful reductions with dasotraline vs placebo in the frequency of binge eating, global severity of illness, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to binge eating. These results suggest dasotraline may offer a novel, well-tolerated and efficacious treatmentfor BED.Funding AcknowledgementsStudy sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 513-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna L. Stollings ◽  
Jennifer L. Thompson ◽  
Benjamin A. Ferrell ◽  
Mika Scheinin ◽  
Grant R. Wilkinson ◽  
...  

Background: The relationship between plasma concentration of sedatives and delirium is unknown. Objective: We hypothesized that higher plasma concentrations of lorazepam are associated with increased delirium risk, whereas higher plasma concentrations of dexmedetomidine are associated with reduced delirium risk. Methods: This prospective cohort study was embedded in a double-blind randomized clinical trial, where ventilated patients received infusions of lorazepam and dexmedetomidine. Plasma concentrations of these drugs and delirium assessments were measured at least daily. A multivariable logistic regression model accounting for repeated measures was used to analyze associations between same-day plasma concentrations of lorazepam and dexmedetomidine (exposures) and the likelihood of next-day delirium (outcome), adjusting for same-day mental status (delirium, coma, or normal) and same-day fentanyl doses. Results: This critically ill cohort (n = 103) had a median age of 60 years (IQR: 48-66) with APACHE II score of 28 (interquartile range [IQR] = 24-32), where randomization resulted in assignment to lorazepam (n = 51) or dexmedetomidine (n = 52). After adjusting for same-day fentanyl dose and mental status, higher plasma concentrations of lorazepam were associated with increased probability of next-day delirium (comparing 500 vs 0 ng/mL; odds ratio [OR] = 13.2; 95% CI = 1.4-120.1; P = 0.02). Plasma concentrations of dexmedetomidine were not associated with next-day delirium (comparing 1 vs 0 ng/mL; OR = 1.1; 95% CI = 0.9-1.3; P = 0.45). Conclusions: In critically ill patients, higher lorazepam plasma concentrations were associated with delirium, whereas dexmedetomidine plasma concentrations were not. This implies that the reduced delirium risk seen in patients sedated with dexmedetomidine may be a result of avoidance of benzodiazepines, rather than a dose-dependent protective effect of dexmedetomidine.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungwani Muungo

Objectives: Self-administered vaginal rings are a promising method for delivery of topical anti-HIV microbicidesand might offer an adherence advantage over daily or coitally-dependent dosage forms such as gels. This trialassessed the safety and pharmacokinetic aspects of the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring-004 when worn as multiple rings oversequential periods of ring use by healthy, sexually-active, HIV-negative women.Methods: This double-blind trial was conducted among 48 women (18-40 years). Participants were randomlyassigned to two groups (A or B) and received (3:1) either the dapivirine or a placebo vaginal ring. Group A used tworings over a 56-day period and Group B used three rings over a 57-day period. Safety evaluations were conductedthroughout the trial. Dapivirine concentrations were measured in plasma, vaginal fluid and cervical tissue samplescollected during and after the 56 days (Group A) or 57 days (Group B) of vaginal ring use.Results: Ring-004 was safe and well tolerated in all participants. The pharmacokinetic profile demonstrated arapid increase in plasma and vaginal fluid concentrations and achieved concentrations in vaginal fluids and cervicaltissue well above the in vitro IC99 in cervical tissue (3.3 ng/mL) that were sustained for a 28 to 35-day ring use period(approximately 3000 times higher in vaginal fluids and 14 -1000 times higher in cervical tissue). Drug levels wereassociated with significant inhibitory activity of genital secretions against HIV ex vivo, a biomarker of pharmacodynamics.Individual plasma dapivirine concentrations did not exceed 553 pg/mL and were well below plasma concentrations atthe maximum tolerated dose for oral treatment (mean Cmax 2286 ng/mL).Conclusions: The consecutive use of several rings over a period of up to 57 days was safe and well tolerated, andPK data indicate that a single Ring-004 is likely to be protective for at least 35 days.


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