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2021 Impact Factor 1.766
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Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry 1996;3(2):258-61. Published online: Feb, 1, 1996
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.