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Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

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

Authors: Marcela Segoviano-Mendoza, Manuel Cárdenas-de la Cruz, José Salas-Pacheco, Fernando Vázquez-Alaniz, Osmel La Llave-León, Francisco Castellanos-Juárez, Jazmín Méndez-Hernández, Marcelo Barraza-Salas, Ernesto Miranda-Morales, Oscar Arias-Carrión, Edna Méndez-Hernández

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Cholesterol has been associated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recently, however, there is growing evidence about crucial requirement of neuron membrane cholesterol in the organization and function of the 5-HT1A 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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Metadata
Title
Hypocholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for depression disorder and suicide attempt in Northern Mexican population
Authors
Marcela Segoviano-Mendoza
Manuel Cárdenas-de la Cruz
José Salas-Pacheco
Fernando Vázquez-Alaniz
Osmel La Llave-León
Francisco Castellanos-Juárez
Jazmín Méndez-Hernández
Marcelo Barraza-Salas
Ernesto Miranda-Morales
Oscar Arias-Carrión
Edna Méndez-Hernández
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1596-z

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