DNA methylation may partly explain psychotropic drug-induced metabolic side effects: results from a prospective 1-month observational study

BACKGROUND

Metabolic side effects of psychotropic medications are a major drawback to patients' successful treatment. Using an epigenome-wide approach, we aimed to investigate DNA methylation changes occurring secondary to psychotropic treatment and evaluate associations between 1-month metabolic changes and both baseline and 1-month changes in DNA methylation levels. Seventy-nine patients starting a weight gain inducing psychotropic treatment were selected from the PsyMetab study cohort. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation was measured at baseline and after 1 month of treatment, using the Illumina Methylation EPIC BeadChip.

RESULTS

A global methylation increase was noted after the first month of treatment, which was more pronounced (p < 2.2 × 10-16) in patients whose weight remained stable (< 2.5% weight increase). Epigenome-wide significant methylation changes (p < 9 × 10-8) were observed at 52 loci in the whole cohort. When restricting the analysis to patients who underwent important early weight gain (≥ 5% weight increase), one locus (cg12209987) showed a significant increase in methylation levels (p = 3.8 × 10-8), which was also associated with increased weight gain in the whole cohort (p = 0.004). Epigenome-wide association analyses failed to identify a significant link between metabolic changes and methylation data. Nevertheless, among the strongest associations, a potential causal effect of the baseline methylation level of cg11622362 on glycemia was revealed by a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis (n = 3841 for instrument-exposure association; n = 314,916 for instrument-outcome association).

CONCLUSION

These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of psychotropic drug-induced weight gain, revealing important epigenetic alterations upon treatment, some of which may play a mediatory role.

Previous exposure to antipsychotic drug treatment is an effective predictor of metabolic disturbances experienced with current antipsychotic drug treatments

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic drugs are associated with adverse events, but serious side effects are not frequent. This study aimed to ascertain whether previous exposure to antipsychotic treatment was associated with metabolic disturbances induced by current antipsychotic medication.

METHODS

A total of 115 antipsychotic-naïve patients, 65 patients with previous exposure to low-metabolic-risk antipsychotics, and 88 patients with previous exposure to high-metabolic-risk antipsychotics were enrolled in our case-control study. All patients were administered olanzapine. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), biochemical indicators of blood glucose and lipids, the proportion of patients who gained more than 7% of their body weight at baseline, and the percentage of dyslipidemia were evaluated. All assessments were conducted at baseline and at 4 and 6 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

Olanzapine treatment resulted in a significant increase in body weight and BMI in antipsychotic-naïve patients compared with the other two groups (both p < 0.05). However, increases in lipid levels in the high-metabolic-risk antipsychotics group were significantly higher than that in the other two groups (both p < 0.05). A history of antipsychotics use was not associated with weight gain (all p > 0.05). Higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥3.37 mmol/L^-1 was observed in antipsychotics exposure group compared with no history of antipsychotics exposure (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.07-3.52). Particularly, a history of high-metabolic-risk antipsychotics use was associated with a higher risk of LDL-C ≥3.37 mmol/L-1(aOR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.03-3.32) compare with other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of exposure to antipsychotics, particularly high-metabolic-risk antipsychotics, is associated with current antipsychotic-induced metabolic disturbances.

SGLT2 inhibitors as potentially helpful drugs in PI3K inhibitor-induced diabetes: a case report

Background

Hyperglycemia is the most common side-effect of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors that are approved for the treatment of some advanced or metastatic breast cancers. This side-effect is likely due to the central role of PI3K in insulin signalling. Here we report the use of a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor to manage severe hyperglycemia.

Case presentation

We describe a 74-year-old woman who developed severe uncontrolled hyperglycemia after commencing alpelisib, a new oral PI3K inhibitor indicated for a metastatic breast cancer, despite taking oral anti-diabetic drugs, metformin and vildagliptin, combined with intravenous insulin infusion of up to 250 units/day. The introduction of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin rapidly improved blood glucose with a drastic reduction in insulin dosage, from 250 to 12 units/day, and without significant side-effects.

Conclusions

We report the successful management of hyperglycemia induced by alpelisib using a SGLT2 inhibitor without the need to discontinue effective cancer treatment.

Systematic Quality Improvement and Metabolic Monitoring for Individuals Taking Antipsychotic Drugs

OBJECTIVE

The authors sought to increase the rate of cardiometabolic monitoring for patients receiving antipsychotic drugs in an academic outpatient psychiatric clinic serving people with serious mental illness.

METHODS

Using a prospective quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series design with data from the electronic health record (EHR), the authors determined metabolic monitoring rates before, during, and after implementation of prespecified quality improvement (QI) measures between August 2016 and July 2017. QI measures included a combination of provider, patient, and staff education; systematic barrier reduction; and an EHR-based reminder system.

RESULTS

After 1 year of QI implementation, the rate of metabolic monitoring had increased from 33% to 49% (p<0.01) for the primary outcome measure (hemoglobin A1C and lipid panel). This increased monitoring rate was sustained for 27 months beyond the end of the QI intervention. More than 75% of providers did not find the QI reminders burdensome.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant improvement in the rate of metabolic monitoring for people taking antipsychotic drugs can be achieved with little added burden on providers. Future research needs to assess the full range of patient, provider, and system barriers that prevent cardiometabolic monitoring for all individuals receiving antipsychotic drugs.

Dietary fiber and probiotics for the treatment of atypical antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background

Atypical antipsychotic medications, which are effective for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are associated with features of metabolic syndrome, such as weight gain, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Although there are a few studies on the effects of dietary fiber or probiotics on weight loss in obese people, no published trials have reported the efficacy of dietary fiber and probiotics on reducing atypical antipsychotic-induced weight gain.

Methods

For this 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 100 patients with a weight gain of more than 10% after taking atypical antipsychotic medications were recruited. Participants were randomized to four groups as follows: probiotics (840 mg twice daily (bid)) plus dietary fiber (30 g bid), probiotics (840 mg bid) plus placebo, placebo plus dietary fiber (30 g bid), or placebo group. The primary outcome was the change in body weight. Secondary outcomes included changes in metabolic syndrome parameters, appetite score, biomarkers associated with a change in weight, and gut microbiota composition and function.

Discussion

To date, this is the first randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial investigating the efficacy of dietary fiber and probiotics alone and in combination to reduce metabolic side effects induced by atypical antipsychotic medications. If effective, it is possible to conclude that dietary fiber and probiotics can reduce atypical antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03379597. Registered on 19 November 2017.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05123-w.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Patient-Centered Approach to Improve Screening for the Metabolic Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medications

Adherence to recommendations for monitoring of metabolic side effects of antipsychotic medications has been historically low. This randomized controlled trial tested whether a computerized, patient-centered intervention that educated Veterans with serious mental illness about these side effects and encouraged them to advocate for receipt of monitoring would increase rates of monitoring compared to enhanced treatment as usual. The mean proportion of days adherent to monitoring guidelines over the 1-year study was similarly high and did not differ between the intervention (range 0.81-0.98) and comparison (range 0.76-0.96) groups. Many individuals in both groups had persistent abnormal metabolic parameter values despite high rates of monitoring, contact with medical providers, and receipt of cardiometabolic medications. Participants exposed to the intervention were interested in receiving personalized information about their cardiometabolic status, demonstrating the preliminary feasibility of brief interventions for enhancing involvement of individuals with serious mental illness in health care decision making.

Loxapine for Reversal of Antipsychotic-Induced Metabolic Disturbances: A Chart Review

Loxapine substitution is a promising option for patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who develop antipsychotic-induced metabolic illness. We performed a chart review of 15 adolescents and adults meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for ASD, all with antipsychotic-associated weight gain, who received low dose loxapine in an attempt to taper or discontinue the weight gain-associated antipsychotic. Mean weight loss was -5.7 kg, mean BMI reduction was -1.9, and mean triglyceride reduction was -33.7 mg/dl. At chart review, 14 of 15 subjects were rated 2 (Much Improved) or 1 (Very Much Improved) on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale (CGI-I). Low dose loxapine addition in most cases enabled taper of offending antipsychotics, significantly reversed drug-induced metabolic disturbances and improved irritability.

Adiposity-independent hypoadiponectinemia as a potential marker of insulin resistance and inflammation in schizophrenia patients treated with second generation antipsychotics

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore body fat independent effect of second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) on measures of glucose and adipokine homeostasis, and markers of inflammation.

METHOD

Eight non-diabetic men with schizophrenia (age: 55±3years, BMI: 29.7±1.2kg/m(2)) on SGAs were studied after an overnight fast. DXA and single-cut CT of abdomen were respectively used for the assessment of total body and abdominal fat. Blood samples were collected for measurements of glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and TNF-α. Data in schizophrenic subjects were compared to eight age (55±2.8years) and BMI (29.6±1.1kg/m(2)) matched healthy men.

RESULTS

The results were significant for markedly decreased serum adiponectin in schizophrenia patients (4.6±0.9 vs 11.1±1.5ng/mL, p=0.001). Lower levels of adiponectin in schizophrenia men were associated with significant increases in insulin resistance (4.2±0.7 vs 1.7±0.4, p=0.004), CRP (3.5±1.2 vs 1.2±0.3, p=0.037), and leptin (12±1.4 vs 8.5±1.4ng/mL, p=0.05). Various measures of adiposity, including fat mass index (FMI) and abdominal fat were not different in the two study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings in the context of comparable age and total body/abdominal fat mass are assumed to be either disease specific, and/or treatment inflicted. The definitive invoking etiology and a presumptive role of hypoadiponectinemia in the development of insulin resistance and increased risk of inflammation warrant future investigation.

Comparison of metabolic effects of aripiprazole, quetiapine and ziprasidone after 12 weeks of treatment in first treated episode of psychosis

This randomized open-label study compared the incidence of metabolic side effects of aripiprazole, ziprasidone and quetiapine in a population of medication-naïve first-episode psychosis patients. A total of 202 subjects were enrolled. Body weight, body mass index, leptin, fasting lipids and fasting glycaemic parameters were measured at baseline and at 3 months follow-up. A hundred and sixty-six patients completed the follow-up and were included in the analyses. A high proportion of patients experienced a significant weight increase (>7% of their baseline weight): 23% ziprasidone (n=12), 32% with quetiapine (n=16) and 45% with aripiprazole (n=31). Patients treated with aripiprazole gained significantly more weight than the patients in the ziprasidone group (1.2 kg [SD=4.1] versus 4.3 kg [SD=4.8], respectively). The increase in leptin levels was greater in women treated with aripiprazole than in those treated with ziprasidone (p=0.030). Mean prolactin levels significantly increased in patients treated with quetiapine and ziprasidone but not in those treated with aripiprazole. Patients treated with quetiapine and aripiprazole showed a significant increase in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol plasma levels. Quetiapine-treated patients resulted in a higher increase in LDL-cholesterol than patients treated with ziprasidone (p=0.021). No other significant differences between groups were found. No significant changes in glycaemic parameters were observed. Our results suggest that ziprasidone has a lower liability for inducing weight gain and lipid abnormalities than aripiprazole or quetiapine.

Antipsychotic induced metabolic changes & treatment response: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Metabolic side effects of antipsychotics contribute to morbidity and non-compliance in treatment of psychosis. Multiple studies suggest that metabolic side effects correlate with response to antipsychotic treatment. However, few studies have systematically looked at this. We conducted an exploratory, naturalistic, prospective, trans-diagnostic study to examine this association.

METHODS

100 patients with psychosis, initiated on antipsychotic treatment alone, were assessed on Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), visual analog scale for appetite, anthropometric measurements (weight, waist circumference, body mass index), and fasting serum lipid and glucose profiles at baseline, 2-4 weeks (n=71) and 8-12 weeks (n=39).

RESULTS

Subjects who dropped out at first/second follow-ups did not differ from those who followed-up, in age, sex, illness duration and BPRS scores. On forward stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, early (2-4 weeks) increase in appetite and triglyceride levels (R(2)=0.257; p=0.003) together predicted 26% variance in treatment response (BPRS score reduction) at first follow-up. At second follow-up 16% of variance in treatment response was predicted by early (2-4 weeks) increase in triglyceride levels (R(2)=0.169; p=0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Early appetite and triglyceride changes predicted antipsychotic treatment response. Involvement of dopaminergic, serotonergic and histaminergic neural pathways could explain the association between appetite and treatment response. Insulin signaling pathways have been implicated in lipid changes with antipsychotics. Study findings suggest metabolic side effects may be early predictors of antipsychotic response. These findings warrant further examination to elucidate the interaction between metabolic pathways and psychotic illnesses, and possibly mechanism of action of antipsychotics beyond dopamine blockade.