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Introduction
Addiction is commonly identified with nonmedical self-administration of drugs, and it is usually defined by characteristics of intoxication or by characteristics of withdrawal symptoms1. Understanding of drug addiction has perhaps made the most progress when conceived in terms of its underlying neuropsychological processes2. Classic ideas of Pavlovian conditioning, positive reinforcement, opponent motivational processes, and cognitive control have all been shown to play a role not only in explaining bizarre behavioral symptoms of drug addicts, but also in relating the behavior to underlying dysfunctional neural networks3.
Facets other than pharmacological therapy include treatment for withdrawal or addiction, nutrition support, and potential for transmission of infectious diseases4. Nutrition education contributes to changes in eating environments to facilitate dietary behavior changes in community residential substance-abuse settings5.
Drug abuse and blood serum biomarkers
There are some neurobehavioral similarities between appetites for drugs and foods6. There is a relationship between imbalances due to diet and substance use7. Although the relationship between alcohol intake and overweight development is highly controversial, some possible mechanisms responsible for this effect are an addition to energy from other sources due to heavy drinking or binge drinking, little effect on satiety, possible influence over energy intake by inhibiting the effects of leptin, or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and increasing cholecystokinin, the primary use of alcohol for heat production, and lifestyle of subjects8. Research on ghrelin’s role in alcoholism/alcohol use disorder (AUD) in general present evidence that the ghrelin system seems to activate the mesolimbic dopaminergic system via its GHS-R1A receptor and ghrelin receptor antagonists attenuate activity within this system9. Ghrelin receptor antagonists may be of use in reducing craving and alcohol consumption, or in promoting long-term abstinence following detoxification10. However, the administration of such agents would be expected to lead to significant weight loss if used chronically10. A study with patients undergoing alcohol and drug treatment found a high level of micronutrient malnutrition (mainly vitamin A, iron, and potassium) and risk related to a poor appetite and diet quality. Moreover, 81% of all participants were at significant risk of future weight loss owing to a poor appetite, and the prevalence of moderate malnutrition according to the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) was 24%11.
Cannabis has been used since ancient times to relieve neuropathic pain, lower intraocular pressure, increase appetite, and decrease nausea and vomiting12-14. Recent studies in humans show that, in addition to absolute amounts of omega-6 and omega-3, fatty acid intake, a higher omega-6/omega-3 ratio plays an important role in increasing the development of obesity via both arachidonic acid eicosanoid metabolites and hyperactivity of the cannabinoid system15. However, a meta-analysis revealed significantly reduced body mass index and rates of obesity in Cannabis users, in conjunction with increased caloric intake, by rapid and long-lasting downregulation of CB1R following acute Cannabis consumption that reduces energy storage and increases metabolic rates16.
Excessive salt intake is related to high blood pressure in humans. Opioid signaling powerfully influences multiple components of the circuitry incentive salience for salt, and further characterizing these roles is important for human health17. Regarding pregnant women, lower body mass index and folate, B12, and iron deficiencies were found in women with opioid use disorder (OUD) compared with women without OUD18.
Amphetamines suppress appetite by increasing the synaptic availabilities of norepinephrine and dopamine in the hypothalamus and subsequently activates the norepinephrine - and dopamine-dependent mechanisms that attenuate the central nervous system control of food intake19. In addition to the catecholamine effects, recent studies have reported that the interaction between hypothalamic dopamine and neuropeptide Y (NPY), an orexigenic neuropeptide, plays a key role in the anorectic effect of amphetamines20. A systematic review including overweight and obese adults with binge-eating disorder found that lisdexamfetamine reduced weight and appetite21.
Cocaine, a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor that serves as an illegal stimulant, appetite suppressant, and anesthetic, also causes vasoconstriction and rhabdomyolysis22. One reason for its effect as an appetite suppressant could be that sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) mediates cocaine anorectic effects by interacting in neurons with growth/hormone/secretagogue (ghrelin) receptors. On the other hand, cocaine use has been related to excessive body weight gain when individuals enter treatment and stop using it. Chronic cocaine exposure may enhance food consumption by modulating 5-HT neurotransmission in the arcuate nucleus directly via SERT inhibition, and indirectly by reducing leptin production through its peripheral effects. The specific appetite for fat may, however, be modulated by cocaine’s excitatory effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) through the release of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)23.
Macronutrients increase the odds of substance use and micronutrients decrease the odds of substance use, especially among females. Besides, the nutrient imbalance is a particularly strong predictor of substance use for both males and females24. Dilutional hyponatremia is mainly caused by direct stimulation of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion by ecstasy (MDMA). Females using ecstasy could be at increased risk of developing severe hyponatremia than males25.
Malnutrition is a major consequence due to substances replacing nutrients and interfering with their metabolism26 and is related to complications in wound healing and infections27. Subjects with substance use disorder could present a significant deficiency of serum folic acid and B12 levels28. Low blood levels of folic acid and B12 could result in anemia characterized by fatigue, loss of energy, dizziness, tachycardia, and conjunctival pallor.
Overweight and obesity promote chronic low-grade inflammation due to an adipokines synthesis increase (TNFα, IL-6, MCP-1, and resistin), which can cause harm kidneys, liver, pancreas, and heart. Abnormal blood serum parameters can suggest disturbances in the homeostasis of such body organs29.
Poor nutritional status in AUD and drug use disorder (DUD) severely impacts their physical and psychological health, which may impede their ability to resist substances of abuse and recover their health30.
As described above, malnutrition-related alterations result in interactions between body organs’ functionality and biological processes that would be evidenced in biochemical parameters. Moreover, blood serum biochemical data are used to complement the assessment of nutritional status. Small improvements in the nutritional environment may translate to large gains in mental health and wellbeing at a population level4.
Senescence is characterized by a decline in renal and liver functions; however, this decline could begin from adulthood depending on childhood lifestyle. Some factors could promote such a decline as unhealthy food intake, chronic diseases, pathogens, and drug abuse. It is known that cocaine and marijuana could promote renal and liver damage. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze nutritional serum biomarkers in subjects diagnosed with drug addiction from January 2010 to June 2020.
Material and methods
Study design and biochemical parameters
The research was a retrospective cohort, analytical, observational, and was based on a convenience sample. Information about blood serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting glucose, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and hemoglobin were analyzed from a database of 103 subjects from the Institute of Neurosciences of Guayaquil (INC). Reference ranges for blood tests from the INC (See Table AM1 in additional materials: http://www.renhyd.org/index.php/renhyd/article/view/1157/743) were considered. Each blood test was carried out during the first week of admission to the INC in the absence of symptoms related to acute toxicity or abstinence syndrome, and with negative rapid tests for drugs (cocaine, amphetamines, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDNA), opioids, marijuana, and psychotropic drugs). Patients were admitted to the drug addiction rehabilitation program from the Addictive Behavior Unit (UCA) from the INC from January 2010 to June 2020. Inclusion criteria involved informed consent, age between 18 and 67 years, and clinical history of chronic abuse of alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, opioids, and cocaine (hydrochloride, base, and crack). Exclusion criteria involved the presence of chronic diseases (liver, kidney, and pancreas) that limit compliance with the research program diagnosed by medical examination and laboratory tests. Subjects were under medical treatment. No sensitive personal information was included, analyzed, or distributed. Subjects submitted informed consent, and the INC supported the research protocol. In the beginning, we wanted to compare serum nutritional biomarkers between adults and the elderly, but we had a very limited number of older adults. Considering that these groups are highly uneven, we determined that the best way to solve this issue was to divide our sample into two even groups (age <30 and ≥30) (Figure 1).
Statistical analyses
Descriptive characteristics of nutritional biomarkers in our sample were expressed as medians with interquartile ranges, and percentages for quantitative and categorical variables, respectively. The normality was analyzed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to determine significant differences among medians of the groups (gender and ages <30 and ≥30). Fisher’s exact test was used to determine significant differences between the percentages of abnormal blood serum biomarkers and genders. Analyses were adjusted for confounding factors including gender and age when these were not the exposure. The group difference was considered statistically significant for p<0.05. There were 1097 uncomplete medical records because 4 years ago there was no admission protocol requesting all laboratory tests included in this research. However, missing data were not included in the statistical analysis. All data were analyzed with RStudio version 1.3.1073.
RESULTS
Nutritional serum markers
The hemoglobin median was significantly higher in men than women and was found within the normal range in both genders (Table 1). However, we found more cases of low blood hemoglobin levels in men (20.4%) than in women (4.9%) (Table 2). The glucose median was found within the normal range for both genders and the difference was not statistically significant (Table 1). The prevalence of abnormal values regarding blood glucose in genders differed significantly (Table 2). HDL values were significantly higher in women than in men. In contrast, the median creatinine was significantly higher in men than in women (Table 1). On the other hand, hemoglobin and HDL were within normal range parameters. In subjects aged 30 or more, we observed a significant increase in the medians of total cholesterol, and creatinine (Table 1). Reference ranges can be found in Table AM1 in additional materials.
Table 1. Median of nutritional serum markers by gender and age.
| Nutritional serum biomarkers (n=103) | Men Median (IQR) | Women Median (IQR) | p-value | <30 yo Median (IQR) | ≥30 yo Median (IQR) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 14.30 (13.63-15.05) | 12.90 (12.20-13.80) | <0.001*** | 14 (13.30-14.90) | 14.1 (12.98-14.83) | 0.710 |
| Glucose (mg/dL) | 84 (77-89) | 79 (74-88) | 0.099 | 84 (75-87.5) | 82 (76-90.0) | 0.836 |
| Total Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 167.5 (147.25-195.75) | 173 (155-216) | 0.276 | 157 (143-190.50) | 183.5 (151.75-205.25) | 0.044* |
| LDL (mg/dL) | 95.05 (74.7-116) | 106 (79.0-131) | 0.185 | 95 (71.50-110) | 99.4 (82.75-123.93) | 0.238 |
| HDL(mg/dL) | 42 (35-50) | 56 (42-63) | <0.001*** | 46 (37-57) | 44 (35.75-51) | 0.226 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.930 (0.833-1.088) | 0.730 (0.650-0.950) | <0.001*** | 0.89 (0.76-0.95) | 0.935 (0.81-1.14) | 0.029* |
Statistical significance ***p<0.001, **p <0.01, *p<0.05. n: Sample Size; LDL: Low Density Lipid; HDL: High Density Lipid; IQR: Interquartile range; yo: years old. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to determine significant differences among medians of the groups. None of the medians was found total cholesterol, HDL and creatinine were significantly different among groups
Men presented higher percentages of high serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides (7.8%, 1.9%, and 19.4%, respectively) than women (3.9%, 2.9%, and 1%, respectively). However, only the percentages regarding categorical variables (high, normal, or low blood levels) of glucose, HDL, and triglycerides were statistically significant (Table 2).
Table 2. Percentages of nutritional serum markers levels by gender.
| Biochemical parameters | Percentage (%) | Fisher’s Exact Test p-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | Low | Normal | ||
| Hemoglobin | ||||
| Men | - | 20.4 | 55.3 | 0.602 |
| Women | - | 4.9 | 19.4 | |
| Glucose | ||||
| Men | 8.7 | 3.9 | 63.1 | 0.023* |
| Women | 0.0 | 4.9 | 19.4 | |
| Total cholesterol | ||||
| Men | 7.8 | - | 68 | 0.479 |
| Women | 3.9 | - | 20.4 | |
| LDL | ||||
| Men | 1.9 | - | 73.8 | 0.091 |
| Women | 2.9 | - | 21.4 | |
| HDL | ||||
| Men | - | 31.1 | 44.7 | 0.029* |
| Women | - | 3.9 | 20.4 | |
| Triglycerides | ||||
| Men | 19.4 | - | 56.3 | 0.021* |
| Women | 1 | - | 23.3 | |
| Creatinine | ||||
| Men | 8.7 | 0.0 | 67.0 | 0.343 |
| Women | 1.9 | 1 | 21.4 | |
| Urea | ||||
| Men | 9.7 | 0.0 | 66.0 | 0.227 |
| Women | 1.9 | 1 | 21.4 | |
| AST | ||||
| Men | 12.6 | - | 63.1 | 0.755 |
| Women | 2.9 | - | 21.4 | |
| ALT | ||||
| Men | 14.6 | - | 61.2 | 0.551 |
| Women | 2.9 | - | 21.4 | |
Statistical significance*** p <0.001, ** p <0.01, * p <0.05. LDL: Low Density Lipid; HDL: High Density Lipid; AST: Aspartate Aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine Aminotransferase. Fisher’s Exact Test was applied to determine associations between genders and percentages. According to our results, we would expect more men experiencing abnormal glucose, triglycerides, and HDL blood levels than women.
Kidney and liver serum markers
Regarding high levels of creatinine, urea, AST, and ALT, the total sample showed 10.6%, 11.6%, 15.5%, and 17.5%, respectively. Men had a higher prevalence of abnormal levels of these biomarkers compared to women, but such percentages were not statistically different (Table 2).
Despite all these differences in blood serum values between men and women, none of the medians were found outside the reference ranges (Table 1). Reference ranges are in Table AM1 in additional materials.
Discussion
In this study, abnormal levels in kidney and liver biomarkers, hemoglobin, glucose, and lipids were found in our subjects. However, their medians were found within reference ranges. In drug addicts, we will probably find more men and people aged more than 30 experiencing dyslipidemia and diseases related to kidneys and liver compared to women and people aged less than 30.
According to the INC, the most common admission diagnosis is opiates drug addiction (heroin type). In crack cocaine users, Escobar et al. found hemoglobin and hematocrit levels below normal for 32.4% and 30.6% of patients, respectively31. Considering normal parameters, a large part of the sample (60.2%) had low levels of HDL cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides (38%)31. We found similar values for low hemoglobin levels and high levels of triglycerides (25.3% and 20.4%, respectively). 35% of our sample presented low HDL levels. Iron and hemoglobin metabolism are tightly related to the kidneys. Kidneys are responsible for the erythropoietin synthesis, which promotes de novo red blood cells from the bone marrow32. Any renal harm may result in anemia, including harm from drug abuse. Other factors that could promote anemia are subclinical or undiagnosed diseases, food insecurity, poverty, and difficult living conditions33. As described in the introduction, once individuals enter treatment and stop using cocaine, their appetite (affected by chronic cocaine use) could encourage excessive calorie consumption. Furthermore, without nutritional counseling, this excessive energy intake could explain the moderate prevalence of dyslipidemia in our sample. In one study, cocaine users reported significantly higher levels of dietary fat and carbohydrates as well as patterns of uncontrolled eating, and their fat mass was significantly reduced compared with their non-drug using peers34. Although our study did not show this data, future research should explore more deeply chronic cocaine use, recovery periods, and endogenous nutrients metabolism.
According to Zhang Y. et al., Zhang M. et al., and Lv et al., methamphetamine abuse in humans induces a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose35-37. We found low levels of fasting glucose in 8.8% of our sample. Even though we did not include subjects with diabetes, it can be highlighted that the effect of substance abuse on glycated hemoglobin and postprandial blood glucose in patients with diabetes was not significant in a review by Ojo et al.38. However, while the value was slightly lower concerning postprandial blood glucose, this was slightly higher in relation to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the substance abuse group compared with control. On the other hand, the effect of substance abuse on fasting blood glucose was significant (p=0.03) compared with control, but this was attenuated following a sensitivity test. This would suggest that substance abuse on fasting blood glucose is not very reliable or transient. A range of factors, including narcotic withdrawal, intercurrent infections, eating habits, characteristics of drugs, and patients’ erratic lifestyle, may explain the outcome38. Drug abuse increases the risk of hypoglycemia, compounded by erratic dietary habits39. Studies in humans and a variety of preclinical models indicate that acute administration of alcohol can lead to either a reduction or no change in the circulating concentration of glucose. However, hypoglycemia would only be anticipated in humans with AUD who also have a relatively poor nutritional status or severely impaired liver function40. However, another study considering that moderate alcohol intake may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, found that one-week alcohol abstinence improved hepatic insulin sensitivity and fasting plasma glucose in non-obese Japanese men with mildly elevated fasting plasma glucose and drinking habits alcohol41. Therefore, it could be interesting to explore these biomarkers on subjects with chronic diseases and drug abuse.
Zhang et al. found that ALT, creatine kinase, and creatinine biochemical serum values in humans were significantly increased in the methamphetamine group. Serum calcium and albumin were found to be significantly decreased in the methamphetamine group35. However, Lu et al. did not observe any clinically significant association between current or past self-reported marijuana use and measures of kidney function42. In our sample, the high levels of serum ALT, AST, and creatinine corresponded to 17.5%, 15.5%, and 10.6%, respectively. Anabolic androgenic steroids, synthetic cannabinoids (also known as “Spice” or “K2”), ecstasy (formally known as MDMA), and cocaine and its levamisole-adulterated counterpart are common or emerging drugs of abuse with severe nephrotoxic effects about which both the community and health care providers should become more aware22. Levamisole has been increasingly used as an adulterant of cocaine in recent years, emerging as a public health challenge worldwide and its toxicity manifests clinically as systemic vasculitis, consisting of cutaneous, hematological, and renal lesions43. An estimated one-third of individuals with a history of opioid misuse or addiction are thought to have AUD regarding the liver. Additionally, opioids may also directly contribute to or exacerbate liver disease because some opioids are metabolized in the liver via the P450 system, and it has been shown and elevation in biochemical markers, particularly alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxides among chronic heroin users thus suggesting direct hepatotoxic effects44. Studies relating to cannabis use and liver health remain unclear. While some studies have suggested possible associations between cannabis consumption and hepatomegaly, others have suggested a decreased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and significantly lower odds of developing steatosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in alcohol abusers who also used marijuana. Possible negative effects on the liver could be due to underlying viral infections, which are common among marijuana users. Furthermore, four cases of hepatic failure associated with cannabis or its synthetic analogs have been reported in the literature45.
Zhang M. et al. observed significant decreases in total cholesterol and triglycerides in methamphetamine-dependent patients compared to the control group36. Our study was observational, not experimental. Thus, we are limited to specify that we did not observe low serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides. 11.7% and 20.4% of our sample showed high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, respectively. Differences in body composition could explain statistically significant differences regarding medians and genders. It is known that men have more muscle and less adipose tissue than women, and this condition could result in higher levels of hemoglobin and creatinine. However, high levels of serum creatinine could suggest kidney disease. HDL increase in women compared to men could be explained by their complex lipid metabolism due to hormones, breastfeeding, and preparation for pregnancy in the future. People aged 30 or more had significantly higher levels of serum creatinine, possibly suggesting initial stages of kidney disease. As described in the introduction, organs functions decline with age. Their different lifestyles and conditions could explain statistically significant differences regarding the prevalence of abnormal serum biomarkers between genders.
The drug addiction treatment from INC is designed in 3 components. Such components are “general services” that includes meals, hygiene, and nursing care; “psychotherapy program” that includes individual therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, family and multifamily therapy, a quality-of-life program for physical exercise training, and social and recreational skills development through healthy use of free time; and “occupational therapy and pharmacotherapy” carried out according to individual needs.
Nutrition services are not part of the 3 components described above. Nonetheless, nutrition plays a key role in the treatment of drug addicts. Nutrition services should be implemented to screen for nutritional risks daily. This will help to determine which patients are at high risk for undernutrition and thus, rapidly implement nutrition care. A good nutritional status will promote life expectancy and quality.
The study limitations involve lack of monitoring of prescribed medicines consumption in follow-up consultations, lack of nutritional counseling because there are no dietitians in the INC, and 4 years ago there was no admission protocol requesting all laboratory tests included in this research. Some feasible confounding factors would be a lack of deep analysis of food insecurity, poverty, and difficult living conditions among subjects. These could be confounding factors because they can decrease food intake, resulting in abnormal blood serum nutritional biomarkers.
Conclusions
There were statistically different medians of hemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL, and creatinine among groups of gender and age in drug addicts in our sample. All medians were within the normal range. Considerably high percentages of low levels of hemoglobin, HDL, and high levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and liver enzymes were observed in men. Healthcare professionals should closely monitor red blood cells, blood lipids, kidneys, and liver status in this population. Further studies exploring the relationship between drug abuse and nutritional status are needed.
