Archive 1995–2023

Introduction: Niacin test for the diagnosis of schizophrenia was proposed by David Horrobin in 1980. The results of the test show a weakened response of patients with schizophrenia to a niacin applied orally or topically, what may prove the presence of lipid disorders in this disorder. A purpose of the article was to perform a review of the research with the use of niacin test in schizophrenia and to present the preliminary results of own research.
Material and methods: The study included 29 patients with schizophrenia (12 men, 17 women) aged 20 to 53 years. The control group consisted of 30 healthy people (15 men, 15 women) aged from 23 to 48 years. Eighteen patients were first episode ones, among them 11 drug naïve and 11 of patients were chronic ones.
A tissue paper with 0,001 M solution of methyl nicotinate was applied topically for 90 seconds. The intensity of reaction was determined by computer analysis of picture of an exposed area.
Results: Schizophrenia patients obtained significantly lower values of the intensity of reaction compared to the control group. There were no differences related to gender, duration of illness and taking antipsychotic medications.
Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate a reduction of skin reaction to niacin in schizophrenia, are consistent with those obtained by other researchers and confirm the disturbances of lipid metabolism in schizophrenia. Niacin test may be helpful both in diagnosis of schizophrenia and in assessment of treatment on lipid status. It is possible to use the test as an enophenotypic marker in schizophrenia, e.g. for deficit symptoms or functional impairment.