Key result
Drug-naïve MDD linked to lower total cholesterol compared to healthy controls.
Why the study?
A comprehensive synthesis of evidence examining lipid profiles in drug-naïve MDD patients was lacking.
Are lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides) altered in drug-naïve patients with Major Depressive Disorder compared to healthy controls?
Meta-Analysis (n=2,174)
Are lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides) altered in drug-naïve patients with Major Depressive Disorder compared to healthy controls?
Standardized Mean Difference: -0.49 (95% CI -0.881–-0.105)
p-value: p=0.015
Drug-naïve patients with Major Depressive Disorder, particularly males, have significantly lower total cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls.
Lower total cholesterol in drug-naïve MDD may flag cardiometabolic risk; extends observational data but leaves causal direction and screening utility open.
Background This study aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence examining lipid profiles in drug-naïve MDD patients.Materials and methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science up to August 2023 for total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels in drug-naïve MDD patients.Results A total of 17 articles comprising 2174 individuals including drug-naïve MDD subjects and controls were included. Our results showed that concentrations of total cholesterol were lower in drug-naïve MDD patients compared with healthy controls (SMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.881 to −0.105; p = 0.015; I2 = 90.6%). However, comparison of other lipid levels between MDD patients and healthy controls demonstrated no significant difference. The results revealed that the association of total cholesterol levels with MDD is more prominent in male-dominant studies (SMD −1.20, 95% CI −2.23 to −0.18, I2 = 87.9%) than in female-dominant studies (SMD −0.25, 95% CI −0.63–0.13, I2 = 89.0%). In meta-regression, none of the factors including year of publication, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score, sample size, BMI, and mean age of participants had a significant influence on the association between cholesterol levels and MDD.Conclusions Lower levels of total cholesterol, especially in males, are associated with MDD, so early lipid monitoring and targeted interventions are necessary.
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Ensan et al. (2024) conducted a meta-analysis in Major Depressive Disorder (n=2,174). Drug-naïve Major Depressive Disorder vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Total cholesterol levels (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.881 to -0.105, p=0.015). Drug-naïve Major Depressive Disorder was associated with significantly lower total cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls (SMD -0.49; 95% CI -0.881 to -0.105; p=0.015).
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