Key result
Mild depression and dysmood disorder linked to lower LCAT and elevated free cholesterol and ApoE.
Why the study?
Comprehensive data regarding lipid metabolism is absent in first episode simple major depressive disorder.
Is simple dysmood disorder associated with altered lipid metabolism and atherogenicity biomarkers in young adults without metabolic syndrome?
Case-Control (n=108)
No
Is simple dysmood disorder associated with altered lipid metabolism and atherogenicity biomarkers in young adults without metabolic syndrome?
Mild depression in young adults is associated with a pre-proatherogenic lipid profile, specifically lowered LCAT and increased free cholesterol, even in the absence of metabolic syndrome.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant lipid monitoring in young adults with mild depression; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective confirmation before practice change.
BACKGROUND: Major depression is classified into distinct subtypes: simple (SDMD) and major dysmood disorder (MDMD). MDMD patients exhibit elevated atherogenicity and decreased reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). However, comprehensive data regarding lipid metabolism is absent in first episode (FE)-SDMD. AIMS: In this case-control study, plasma lipid levels, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), free cholesterol, apolipoprotein (Apo)A1, ApoB, and ApoE are compared between academic students with first episode SDMD (FE-SDMD) (n = 44) or SDMD (n = 64) and control students (n = 44), after excluding those with metabolic syndrome (MetS). RESULTS: LCAT is decreased, and free cholesterol and ApoE increased in subjects with SDMD and FE-SDMD as compared with controls. There were no significant alterations in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), ApoA1, RCT, ApoB and triglycerides in SDMD. LCAT, free cholesterol and atherogenicity indices are significantly associated with suicidal behaviors and the SDMD phenome. The effects of LCAT on those phenome features is completely mediated by free cholesterol and brooding. SDMD and FE-SDMD patients without signs of subclinical MetS show lowered LCAT and increased free cholesterol as compared with normal controls. There are significant interactions between the SDMD and FE-SDMD diagnosis and subclinical MetS, which result in decreased HDLc and RCT, and an increased ApoB/ApoA ratio. DISCUSSION: FE-SDMD and SDMD are pre-proatherogenic states, because of decreased LCAT, and increased free cholesterol and ApoE, and their intersections with subclinical MetS. These aberrations may drive atherogenicity, and activation of peripheral and central oxidative, neuro-immune, and degenerative pathways. Individuals with FE-SDMD should be screened and treated for increased atherogenicity risk by measuring free cholesterol and ApoE.
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Maes et al. (2024) conducted a case-control in Simple dysmood disorder (SDMD) / First-episode mild depression (n=108). Simple dysmood disorder (SDMD) vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Plasma levels of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), free cholesterol, and ApoE. Simple dysmood disorder and first-episode mild depression are associated with lowered lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and increased free cholesterol and ApoE compared to healthy controls.
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