Triacetyluridine (TAU) decreases depressive symptoms and increases brain pH in bipolar patients

Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2008 Jun;16(3):199-206. doi: 10.1037/1064-1297.16.3.199.

Abstract

Eleven patients with bipolar depression were given doses of up to 18 g per day of triacetyluridine (TAU) over 6 weeks to test the effect of uridine on symptoms of depression via Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS; Asberg, Montgomery, Perris, Schalling, & Sedvall, 1978) scores and on cellular bioenergetics using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (31P-MRSI). All patients and comparison participants (n = 9) completed baseline 31P-MRSI scans, and 9 patients completed posttherapy scans. The percentage changes for MADRS scores (Week 2, -23.8; Week 3, -34.9; Week 4, -42.5) and the time effects of TAU on MADRS scores (Week 2, z = -2.07, p = .039; Week 3, z = -4.28, p < .001; Week 4, z = -4.54, p < .001) may reflect TAU effects on early symptom improvement. TAU responders (patients who had a 50% or greater reduction in MADRS scores from baseline at any time) demonstrated a significant difference from nonresponders in pH changes from baseline (effect size = 150). These results suggest that TAU treatment may decrease symptoms of depression and improve mitochondrial functioning.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetates
  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Bipolar Disorder / metabolism
  • Bipolar Disorder / psychology*
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects*
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Phosphocreatine / metabolism
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Uridine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Uridine / pharmacology
  • Uridine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Acetates
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Phosphocreatine
  • uridine triacetate
  • Uridine