Exploring the association between serum β-Carotene and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia

Background and Aims: There has been no previous investigation into the relationship between serum β-Carotene levels and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia. This research aims to explore the association between schizophrenia, metabolic syndrome, and serum β-Carotene levels. Specifically, this study addresses this knowledge gap and examines whether lower serum β-Carotene levels are associated with an increased risk for metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia. Methods and Results: The present study involved 38 patients with schizophrenia (n = 38). We collected demographic data, anthropometric measurements, blood samples for lipid panels, sugar levels, and serum β-Carotene levels, as well as participant responses to food frequency questionnaires. Results revealed the median serum β-Carotene was 0.87 (range: 0.69–1.14 μmol/L). The median metabolic syndrome Z-score using waist circumference was 0.13 (range: −1.10–2.39). Pairwise Spearman's correlation between metabolic syndrome Z-score versus β-Carotene showed a rho = −0.56, P < 0.001 for the overall sample. Linear regression between metabolic syndrome Z-score as a dependent variable and serum β-Carotene as an independent variable showed a regression coefficient of −3.11, P < 0.001. Conclusion: The findings of this study offer suggestive evidence of a statistically significant positive correlation between reduced serum β-Carotene levels in individuals with schizophrenia and a heightened global risk of developing metabolic syndrome. This preliminary study has implications for the management of schizophrenia patients, suggesting that patients' serum levels of β-Carotene be periodically checked and referrals made to dieticians as necessary.