ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANTIDEPRESSANT USE AND OXIDATIVE STRESS BIOMARKERS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress, characterized by an imbalance between reactive oxygen
species and antioxidant defenses, is implicated in various neuropsychiatric conditions.
Antidepressant use, particularly long-term, may influence oxidative stress levels. Assessing this
impact in populations such as university students is essential. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the
association between the use of antidepressants and the levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress
and antioxidants in students at a university on the western border of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 244 university
students aged 18 to 55 years, divided into two groups: regular users of antidepressants (n = 36)
and a control group (n = 208) without medication use. Blood samples were collected to analyze
the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase
(GPx), nitrite/nitrate (NOx), total antioxidant status (TAS), catalase (CAT), protein carbonylation,
picogreen, dichloride and markers of renal and hepatic function. Sociodemographic and clinical
data were obtained through a standardized questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Student's
t-test and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Students using
antidepressants had significantly higher levels of MDA (p=0.015), NOx (p=0.010) and reduced
levels of picogreen (p=0.006), possibly indicating increased oxidative stress. There was no
statistically significant difference in the other biomarkers between the groups. There were no
differences in age and sex of the participants between the groups. These results suggest that
antidepressant use among college students is associated with increased biomarkers of
oxidative stress, highlighting the need for clinical monitoring and mental health promotion
measures, especially in young populations.