hree studies are reported. In study 1, vanadium
concentration was estimated by neutron activation
analysis in hair, whole blood, serum and urine from
13 patients suffering from depressive psychosis and
then were on recovery. Vanadium concentration of
hair, whole blood and serum decreased significantly
with recovery, but there was no significant change
in 24-h urinary excretion or in renal clearance of
vanadium. In study 2, vanadium concentration was
estimated by neutron activation analysis in serum
and urine of 31 patients with depressive psychosis
and of 27 normal controls. Mean renal clearance of
vanadium was significantly lower and mean serum
vanadium concentration significantly higher in
depressed patients than in controls. Mean 24-h
excretion did not correlate with urine volume, with
serum concentration or with age. In study 3,
erythrocyte Na-l ATPase activity and serum
vanadium concentrations were estimated in 58
patients. There was a strong negative correlation
between the two, supporting the suggestion that
changes in tissue vanadium concentration may
explain the changes in sodium transport which
occur in depressive psychosis.
GJ Naylor, FM Corrigan, AH Smith, P Connelly, NI
Ward. Br. J Psychiatry, 1987;150:656-661
Copyright © 2005 Anamol Laboratories Ltd.
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