Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression

Background: Our previous study showed that antibiotic exposure was linked to depressive symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults in China. Our current study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms by assessing the intermediated effects of circulating short-chain organic acids (SCOAs) on t...

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Main Authors: Shujing Sun, Li Kong, Fangting Hu, Sheng Wang, Menglong Geng, Hongjuan Cao, Xingyong Tao, Fangbiao Tao, Kaiyong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Metabolites
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/689
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author Shujing Sun
Li Kong
Fangting Hu
Sheng Wang
Menglong Geng
Hongjuan Cao
Xingyong Tao
Fangbiao Tao
Kaiyong Liu
author_facet Shujing Sun
Li Kong
Fangting Hu
Sheng Wang
Menglong Geng
Hongjuan Cao
Xingyong Tao
Fangbiao Tao
Kaiyong Liu
author_sort Shujing Sun
collection DOAJ
description Background: Our previous study showed that antibiotic exposure was linked to depressive symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults in China. Our current study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms by assessing the intermediated effects of circulating short-chain organic acids (SCOAs) on this association. Methods: Depressive symptoms were screened by the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Urinary concentrations of antibiotics and serum SCOAs were measured using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method. Results: Increased exposure to sulfadiazine, azithromycin, tetracyclines, or veterinary antibiotics (VAs) was positively associated with GDS-30 scores. Tetracycline reduced levels of caproic acid, iso-butyric acid, and iso-caproic acid (iso-CA), with iso-CA concentration inversely correlating with GDS-30 scores, while β-hydroxybutyric acids showed a positive correlation. The mediating effect of serum iso-CA on the association between depression and ofloxacin, with a mediating effect of 25.3%, and the association between depression and tetracycline, with a mediating effect of 46.3%, were both statistically significant, indicating partial mediation. Conclusions: Antibiotics may affect the levels of SCOAs in older adults and could potentially contribute to depressive symptoms by influencing alterations in serum iso-CA levels.
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spelling doaj-art-55ce4c71ed47450c853bebf2f73502722025-08-20T02:50:41ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892024-12-01141268910.3390/metabo14120689Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for DepressionShujing Sun0Li Kong1Fangting Hu2Sheng Wang3Menglong Geng4Hongjuan Cao5Xingyong Tao6Fangbiao Tao7Kaiyong Liu8School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaCenter for Scientific Research, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaLu’an Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lu’an 237000, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, ChinaBackground: Our previous study showed that antibiotic exposure was linked to depressive symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults in China. Our current study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms by assessing the intermediated effects of circulating short-chain organic acids (SCOAs) on this association. Methods: Depressive symptoms were screened by the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Urinary concentrations of antibiotics and serum SCOAs were measured using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method. Results: Increased exposure to sulfadiazine, azithromycin, tetracyclines, or veterinary antibiotics (VAs) was positively associated with GDS-30 scores. Tetracycline reduced levels of caproic acid, iso-butyric acid, and iso-caproic acid (iso-CA), with iso-CA concentration inversely correlating with GDS-30 scores, while β-hydroxybutyric acids showed a positive correlation. The mediating effect of serum iso-CA on the association between depression and ofloxacin, with a mediating effect of 25.3%, and the association between depression and tetracycline, with a mediating effect of 46.3%, were both statistically significant, indicating partial mediation. Conclusions: Antibiotics may affect the levels of SCOAs in older adults and could potentially contribute to depressive symptoms by influencing alterations in serum iso-CA levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/689antibioticsbiomonitoringdepressive symptomsshort-chain organic acidsthe elderly
spellingShingle Shujing Sun
Li Kong
Fangting Hu
Sheng Wang
Menglong Geng
Hongjuan Cao
Xingyong Tao
Fangbiao Tao
Kaiyong Liu
Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression
Metabolites
antibiotics
biomonitoring
depressive symptoms
short-chain organic acids
the elderly
title Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression
title_full Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression
title_fullStr Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression
title_full_unstemmed Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression
title_short Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression
title_sort metabolic alterations of short chain organic acids in the elderly link antibiotic exposure with the risk for depression
topic antibiotics
biomonitoring
depressive symptoms
short-chain organic acids
the elderly
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/689
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