P0327 - Ethane as a biomarker of schizophrenia

Abstract

Background and Aims:

This study directly assessed whether there was a change in the level of exhaled ethane, which provides a non-invasive, quantitative, direct measure of n-3 lipid peroxidation, in the breath of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods:

Samples of alveolar air were obtained from 20 subjects with schizophrenia and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. The air samples were analyzed for ethane using mass spectrometry.

Results:

The mean level of ethane in the schizophrenia sample (5.15 (S.E. 0.56) ppb) was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (2.63 (S.E. 0.31) ppb; p < 0.0005). A further sub-analysis showed that nicotine dependence was unlikely to be the cause of this difference.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that the measurement of exhaled ethane levels may offer a non-invasive direct marker of increased n-3 lipid peroxidation in schizophrenia.