Investigation of serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in generalised anxiety disorder.

StudyThe South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa· 2026

Investigation of serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in generalised anxiety disorder.

Serkan Yazici, Ezgi Sıla Ahi Üstün

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Anxiety, OCD & TraumaStudyQ3IF 1.3

Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels are lower in generalised anxiety disorder than in healthy controls

Investigation of serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in generalised anxiety disorder.

Serkan Yazici, Ezgi Sıla Ahi Üstün

The South African journal of psychiatry · 2026 · Q3 in Psychiatry

Background

Lactate dehydrogenase (lactate dehydrogenase) plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism by catalysing the conversion of pyruvate to lactate and facilitating lactate utilisation.

Purpose

This study aimed to compare serum lactate dehydrogenase levels between patients with generalised anxiety disorder (generalised anxiety disorder) and healthy controls (healthy controls) and to examine the associations between lactate dehydrogenase levels and clinical features.

Methods

This study included 113 participants with generalised anxiety disorder and 90 healthy controls.

n = 113 participants

Results

lower lactate dehydrogenase suggests altered lactate metabolism in generalised anxiety disorder

MD -15.61 (95% CI -21.18 to -9.97)

null 0

-21.18

-9.97

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

The analysis of covariance analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in adjusted lactate dehydrogenase levels between the control and generalised anxiety disorder groups ( p < 0.001; mean difference: -15.607; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -21.180 to -9.975).

More results

Additionally, lactate dehydrogenase 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).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

These findings support the hypothesis that lactate dehydrogenase may represent a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in the clinical management of anxiety.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

CONTRIBUTION: This study is the first to report significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase levels in individuals with generalised anxiety disorder, highlighting a potential link between altered lactate metabolism and anxiety pathogenesis.

Investigation of serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in generalised anxiety disorder.

Investigation of serum lactate dehydrogenase levels in generalised anxiety disorder.

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