Open AccessMetal ions in cerebrospinal fluid: Associations with anxiety, depression, and insomnia among cigarette smokers
Author(s) -
Li Yuying,
Wu Fenzan,
Mu Qingshuang,
Xu Kewei,
Yang Shizhuo,
Wang Ping,
Wu Yuyu,
Wu Junnan,
Wang Wei,
Li Hui,
Chen Li,
Wang Fan,
Liu Yanlong
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
cns neuroscience and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1755-5949
pISSN - 1755-5930
DOI - 10.1111/cns.13955
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , beck depression inventory , anxiety , cerebrospinal fluid , medicine , pittsburgh sleep quality index , insomnia , cotinine , nicotine , zinc , gastroenterology , psychology , psychiatry , sleep quality , metallurgy , materials science , economics , macroeconomics
Objective The study aimed to investigate the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metal ions and anxiety, depression, and insomnia among cigarette smokers. Methods We measured CSF levels of various metal ions from 178 Chinese male subjects. Apart from sociodemographic and clinical characteristics data, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were applied. Results BDI and PSQI scores (all p < 0.001) were significantly higher in active smokers than nonsmokers. Active smokers have significantly higher CSF levels of magnesium, zinc, iron, lead, lithium, and aluminum (all p ≤ 0.002). Some metal ions, including zinc, iron, lead, and aluminum, were found to have a significant correlation with BDI scores, whereas metal ions, including zinc and lead, were found to have a significant correlation with PSQI scores in the general group. More interesting, mediation analysis showed that aluminum mediated the relationship between smoking and depression. Conclusions Cigarette smoking was indeed associated with depression and insomnia. Active smokers had significantly higher CSF levels of magnesium, zinc, iron, lead, lithium, and aluminum. Furthermore, CSF aluminum played a mediating role in the relationship between smoking and depression, which further confirmed its neurotoxicity.