Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry

Objective : Several studies have suggested that reduction of cholesterol concentration and low cholesterol level increases suicide, homicide, and depression. The authors sought to determine whether low cholesterol is associated with a history of suicidal attempts among major depression patients.

Method : The subjects were 105 patients with major depression, diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R criteria, and 105 age, sex matched healthy controls. Blood was taken following overnight fast and serum cholesterol concentration were measured by a enzymatic method.

Results : The serum cholesterol level was significantly lower in the patients with major depression than in healthy controls(180.4±43.4mg/dl vs 199.7±35.8mg/dl). And the serum cholesterol level was signficantly lower in major depression patients with suicidal attempt than in major depression patients without suicidal attempt(156.7±38.2mg/dl vs 187.8±42.5mg/dl).

Conclusion : It is hypothesized that low cholesterol level is associated with depression by modifying the serotonin metabolism and the production of interleukin-2. Low cholesterol concentration should be further investigated as a potential biological marker of suicidal risk in major depression. Prospective study with cholesterol determinations should be done.

Keywords Major depression;Serum cholesterol;Suicidal attempt.