Investigation of Plasma TMAO Levels in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 35 Sayı: 3, 435 - 441, 30.06.2025

Ahmet Güleç , Serhat Türkoğlu , Ramazan Kocabaş , Mustafa Tezcan

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1592267

Öz

Investigation of Plasma TMAO Levels in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Background/Aims:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder among children and adolescents. Emerging evidence suggests a potential connection between gut microbiota-derived metabolites, such as Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and neuropsychiatric disorders. This study aims to examine plasma TMAO levels in children and adolescents with ADHD and to explore the relationship between TMAO levels and the severity of ADHD symptoms.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 96 participants aged 7 to 15 years, comprising 50 patients diagnosed with ADHD and 46 healthy controls. Plasma TMAO levels were determined using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed using the T-DSM-IV-TR scale.
Results:
Plasma TMAO levels were significantly higher in the ADHD group compared to the control group (p=0.02). A positive correlation was identified between plasma TMAO levels and total T-DSM-IV-TR scores (p<0.001), indicating that higher TMAO levels are associated with increased severity of ADHD symptoms. However, no significant correlations were observed between TMAO levels and other subscale scores.
Conclusions:
This study indicates that elevated plasma TMAO levels in children and adolescents with ADHD may reflect a biochemical characteristic of the disorder. Additionally, the association between TMAO levels and ADHD symptom severity suggests that TMAO might play a role in the pathophysiology of ADHD.

Anahtar Kelimeler

ADHD , Trimethylamine N-oxide , gut microbiome , neurotoxicity , child and adolescent psychiatry

DEHB'li Çocuk ve Ergenlerde Plazma TMAO Seviyelerinin İncelenmesi: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Öz

Giriş/Amaç:
Dikkat Eksikliği ve Hiperaktivite Bozukluğu (DEHB), çocuk ve ergenlerde yaygın görülen nörogelişimsel bir rahatsızlıktır. Son araştırmalar, bağırsak mikrobiyotası kaynaklı metabolitler, özellikle Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), ile nöropsikiyatrik hastalıklar arasında potansiyel bir bağlantı olduğunu öne sürmektedir. Bu çalışma, DEHB’li çocuk ve ergenlerde plazma TMAO seviyelerini değerlendirmeyi ve TMAO seviyeleri ile DEHB semptomlarının şiddeti arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Yöntemler:
Bu kesitsel çalışma, 7-15 yaşları arasında 96 katılımcıyı içermiştir; bunların 50’si DEHB tanısı almış hastalardan, 46’sı ise sağlıklı kontrol grubundan oluşmaktadır. Plazma TMAO seviyeleri, Enzim Bağlı İmmünosorbent Testi (ELISA) yöntemiyle ölçülmüştür. DEHB semptomlarının şiddeti, T-DSM-IV-TR ölçeği kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir.

Bulgular:
Plazma TMAO seviyeleri, DEHB grubunda kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı derecede daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p=0.02). Ayrıca, plazma TMAO seviyeleri ile toplam T-DSM-IV-TR puanları arasında pozitif bir korelasyon tespit edilmiştir (p<0.001). Bu bulgu, daha yüksek TMAO seviyelerinin daha şiddetli DEHB semptomları ile ilişkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Ancak, TMAO seviyeleri ile diğer alt ölçek puanları arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunamamıştır.

Sonuç:
Bu çalışma, DEHB’li çocuk ve ergenlerde yüksek plazma TMAO seviyelerinin, bozukluğun biyokimyasal özelliklerini yansıtabileceğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, TMAO seviyeleri ile DEHB semptomlarının şiddeti arasındaki ilişki, TMAO’nun DEHB’nin fizyopatolojisinde potansiyel bir rol oynayabileceğini düşündürmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

DEHB , Trimetilamin N-oksit , bağırsak mikrobiyomu , nörotoksisite , çocuk ve ergen psikiyatrisi

Kaynakça

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