Serum Zonulin Levels and Social Cognition in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Aim: Alterations in gut-brain axis of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been indicated in recent studies. The aim of this study was to determine whether serum level of zonulin, considered to be a regulator of permeability in both gut-blood and blood-brain barriers, was associated with ADHD symptoms, and to evaluate the relationship between zonulin and social cognition in children with ADHD. Material and Methods: Serum level of zonulin was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 40 treatment-naive children with ADHD, and age and gender matched 40 healthy children as control group. DuPaul ADHD Rating Scale was used for ADHD symptoms and reading the mind in the eyes test (RMET) was administered by the clinician to examine the social cognitive abilities. Results: We found that serum zonulin levels were significantly higher in ADHD group compared to control group (p=0.010). Also, children with ADHD have significantly lower RMET scores (p=0.007). Furthermore, we found statistically significant positive correlations between serum zonulin levels and ADHD symptoms (p<0.001) and a negative correlation between serum zonulin levels and RMET scores (p=0.001) in ADHD group. Conclusion: The present study is the first to evaluate whether there is a relationship between serum zonulin levels and social cognition in children with ADHD. The results of our study indicate that zonulin may be associated with ADHD and social cognition. Further studies with larger samples are required to determine the role of zonulin in ADHD.

Keywords

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• zonulin
• social cognition
• gut-brain axis

Dikkat Eksikliği Hiperaktivite Bozukluğu olan Çocuklarda Serum Zonulin Düzeyleri ve Sosyal Biliş

Abstract

Amaç: Son çalışmalarda dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu (DEHB) tanılı hastaların bağırsak-beyin eksenindeki değişiklikler belirtilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, hem bağırsak-kan hem de kan-beyin bariyerlerinde geçirgenliği düzenlemek için bir modülatör olarak kabul edilen zonulinin serum düzeyinin DEHB tanılı çocuklarda DEHB belirtileriyle ilişkili olup olmadığını belirlemek ve zonulin ile sosyal biliş arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığını değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Zonulinin serum düzeyi, tedavi görmemiş 40 DEHB tanılı çocukta ve kontrol grubu olarak yaş ve cinsiyet yönünden eşleştirilmiş 40 sağlıklı çocukta enzime bağlı immünosorbent testi (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA) kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. DEHB belirtileri, DuPaul DEHB Derecelendirme Ölçeği ile puanlanmış ve sosyal bilişsel becerileri incelemek için ise klinisyen tarafından gözlerden zihin okuma testi (reading the mind in the eyes test, RMET) uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: DEHB grubunda serum zonulin düzeyleri kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak yüksek olarak bulunmuştur (p=0.010). Ayrıca, DEHB tanılı çocukların RMET puanları önemli ölçüde düşük bulunmuştur (p=0.007). Ek olarak, DEHB grubunda serum zonulin düzeyleri ile DEHB semptomları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı pozitif korelasyon (p<0.001) ve serum zonulin düzeyleri ile RMET skorları arasında ise negatif korelasyon (p=0.001) bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, DEHB tanılı çocuklarda serum zonulin düzeyleri ile sosyal biliş arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığını değerlendiren ilk çalışmadır. Çalışmamızın sonuçları, zonulinin DEHB ve sosyal biliş ile ilişkili olabileceğini göstermektedir. Zonulinin DEHB'deki rolünü belirlemek için daha büyük örneklemlerle yapılacak ileri çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu
• zonulin
• sosyal biliş
• bağırsak-beyin ekseni

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