Investigation of serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in generalised anxiety disorder

Abstract

Background: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism by catalysing the conversion of pyruvate to lactate and facilitating lactate utilisation. Given LDH’s central role in energy metabolism, it may serve as a promising biomarker for anxiety disorders.
Aim: This study aimed to compare serum LDH levels between patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and healthy controls (HC) and to examine the associations between LDH levels and clinical features.
Setting: Bursa City Hospital: A tertiary hospital in Bursa, Turkey.
Methods: This study included 113 participants with GAD and 90 HC. Group comparisons were conducted using an independent samples t-test. Correlations between LDH levels and clinical variables were assessed using the Pearson rank correlation coefficient. To control for the impacts of possible confounding factors on LDH levels, an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted.
Results: Serum LDH levels were significantly lower in the GAD compared to the HC (157.7 ± 18.7 vs. 173.2 ± 23.3; p: <0.001, t: −5.249, d Cohen: 0.733). The ANCOVA analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in adjusted LDH levels between the control and GAD groups (p < 0.001; mean difference: −15.607; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −21.180 to −9.975). Additionally, LDH levels were negatively and significantly correlated with HAM-A scores (r = −0.218, p = 0.021) and psychic subscale scores (r = −0.250, p = 0.008).
Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that LDH may represent a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in the clinical management of anxiety.
Contribution: This study is the first to report significantly reduced LDH levels in individuals with GAD, highlighting a potential link between altered lactate metabolism and anxiety pathogenesis.