Journal Article

Nitrated meat products are associated with mania in humans and altered behavior and brain gene expression in rats

Dickerson, Faith, Wright, Christian S, Boersma, Gretha J, Evan, Siple C, Cordner, Zachary A, Campbell, Wayne W, Pletnikov Mikhail, Li, Ye, Khambadkone, Seva G, Yolken, Robert H, Xiao Jianchun, Moran, Timothy H, Tamashiro, Kellie L, Severance, Emily G, Prandovszky Emese, Conover, Talbot C

2020

Overview

Mania is a serious neuropsychiatric condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have suggested that environmental exposures can contribute to mania pathogenesis. We measured dietary exposures in a cohort of individuals with mania and other psychiatric disorders as well as in control individuals without a psychiatric disorder. We found that a history of eating nitrated dry cured meat but not other meat or fish products was strongly and independently associated with current mania (adjusted odds ratio 3.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.24–5.45, p < 8.97 × 10−8). Lower odds of association were found between eating nitrated dry cured meat and other psychiatric disorders. We further found that the feeding of meat preparations with added nitrate to rats resulted in hyperactivity reminiscent of human mania, alterations in brain pathways that have been implicated in human bipolar disorder, and changes in intestinal microbiota. These findings may lead to new methods for preventing mania and for developing novel therapeutic interventions.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Affective disorders / Bipolar disorder / Fishery products / Gene expression / Hyperactivity / Intestinal microflora / Intestine / Meat / Meat products / Mental disorders / Microbiota / Morbidity / Therapeutic applications