Physical Exercise to Rebalance Kynurenine Metabolism in Borderline Personality Disorder – Preliminary Findings

Systemic inflammation and dysregulated kynurenine (KYN) metabolism are increasingly recognised as key factors in various psychiatric disorders. Imbalances in the KYN pathway are associated with psychological andcognitive symptoms across disorders like depression and schizophrenia, yet remain unexplored in borderlinepersonality disorder (BPD). This study is the first to compare KYN metabolism together with the myokine IL-6 inBPD patients and healthy controls and to examine acute exercise effects on this pathway in BPD. Fourteen pa-tients with BPD and nine controls participated in two experimental conditions: cycling exercise and a controlsession. Serum samples were analysed for tryptophan (TRP), KYN, kynurenic acid (KA), and quinolinic acid (QA).Results revealed greater QA/KYN and lower KA/KYN and KA/QA ratios in BPD, indicating a shift toward theneurotoxic branch. Acute exercise increased KA, KA/KYN, KA/QA, and IL-6 levels, highlighting its potential toenhance neuroprotective KYN activity. These findings suggest KYN pathway dysregulation in BPD and supportphysical exercise as a promising intervention to rebalance this pathway. Further research should investigatelong-term exercise effects and their impact on psychological outcomes in BPD.