New Study Reveals Causal Relationships Between Blood Metabolites and Psychiatric Disorders

A team of researchers from Southeast University in Jiangsu, China, has conducted a new study on the causal relationships between blood metabolites and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The study, which has been peer-reviewed, aimed to investigate the relationships between 8 psychiatric disorders and 1139 blood metabolites. The researchers used bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to systematically explore these causal relationships. The study found that several metabolites are associated with the risk of multiple psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Key Takeaways:

• The study identified 34, 21, 56, and 1 metabolites that are associated with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, respectively.
• The researchers found that several metabolites are associated with the risk of multiple psychiatric disorders, including N2,N2-dimethylguanosine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-gpc (16:0/16:0), and phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C38:4, which were negatively associated with the risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• The study also found that blood metabolites are influenced by psychiatric disorders, with depression significantly affecting 21 metabolite levels.
• The research provides potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
• The study's findings were published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin and have been peer-reviewed.

Statistics:

• 8 psychiatric disorders were investigated in the study, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anorexia nervosa (AN), anxiety, bipolar disorder (BIP), depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and schizophrenia (SCZ).
• 1139 blood metabolites were analyzed in the study, including 823 metabolite levels and 316 metabolite ratios.
• 34 metabolites were associated with bipolar disorder, 21 metabolites were associated with schizophrenia, 56 metabolites were associated with depression, and 1 metabolite was associated with posttraumatic stress disorder.
• 21 metabolite levels were significantly affected by depression, including positively associated with 21-hydroxypregnenolone disulfate and negatively associated with carotenoid.

Sources:

• Mendelian-randomization Study Reveals Causal Relationships Between Blood Metabolites and Psychiatric Disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2025.
• Southeast University. NewsRx. Recent Findings from Southeast University Provides New Insights into Schizophrenia (Mendelian-randomization Study Reveals Causal Relationships Between Blood Metabolites and Psychiatric Disorders). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. October 18, 2025; p 688.