What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case-Control. Population: Major depressive disorder and suicide attempt (n=467). Intervention: Hypocholesterolemia vs. Normal cholesterol levels. Primary outcome: Major depressive disorder (OR 4.229, 95% CI 2.555-7.000, p=<0.001).

January 15, 2018Open Access

Hypocholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for depression disorder and suicide attempt in Northern Mexican population

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Hypocholesterolemia was significantly associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder (OR 4.229) and suicide attempt (OR 5.540) in a Northern Mexican population.

Key Result

Hypocholesterolemia was significantly associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder (OR 4.229) and suicide attempt (OR 5.540) in a Northern Mexican population.

Study Design

Type

Case-Control (n=467)

Multicenter

Yes

PICO

Population

Major depressive disorder and suicide attempt (n=467)

Intervention / Comparator

Hypocholesterolemia vs Normal cholesterol levels (<150 mg/dl)

Primary Outcome

Major depressive disorder — OR 4.229 (2.555-7.000), p=<0.001

Main Result

Effect estimate: OR 4.229 (95% CI 2.555-7.000)

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

Case-control design prevents inferring temporality with certainty
Did not measure 24 S-hydroxycholesterol levels, a peripheral biomarker of brain cholesterol metabolism
Did not evaluate dietary intake
Did not analyze the cardiovascular risk associated with serum cholesterol concentrations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: serotonin receptor. For this, low cholesterol level has been reported to be associated with depression and suicidality. However there have been inconsistent reports about this finding and the exact relationship between these factors remains controversial. Therefore, we investigated the link between serum cholesterol and its fractions with depression disorder and suicide attempt in 467 adult subjects in Mexican mestizo population. METHODS: Plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were determined in 261 MDD patients meeting the DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), 59 of whom had undergone an episode of suicide attempt, and 206 healthy controls. RESULTS: A significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels was observed in the groups of MDD patients and suicide attempt compared to those without suicidal behavior (p < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, lower cholesterol levels were significantly associated with MDD (OR 4.229 CI 95% 2.555 - 7.000, p<.001) and suicide attempt (OR 5.540 CI 95% 2.825 - 10.866, p<.001) CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that lower levels of cholesterol are associated with mood disorders like MDD and suicidal behavior. More mechanistic studies are needed to further explain this association.

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Cite This Study

Segoviano-Mendoza et al. (Mon,) conducted a case-control in Major depressive disorder and suicide attempt (n=467). Hypocholesterolemia vs. Normal cholesterol levels was evaluated on Major depressive disorder (OR 4.229, 95% CI 2.555-7.000, p=<0.001). Hypocholesterolemia was significantly associated with an increased risk of major depressive disorder (OR 4.229) and suicide attempt (OR 5.540) in a Northern Mexican population.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a163b2911b6e3064cc2050d https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1596-z