Low cholesterol levels linked with depression

This study was published in the African Journal of Psychiatry 2012 Jan;15(1):25-9

Study title and authors:
Elevated plasma homocysteine in association with decreased vitamin B(12), folate, serotonin, lipids and lipoproteins in depressed patients.

Ebesunun MO, Eruvulobi HU, Olagunju T, Owoeye OA.
Chemical Pathology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Nigeria. onoebe@yahoo.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22344759

The study investigated the relationship between various blood measurements and depression. The study included 30 depressed patients and 30 healthy volunteers.

The study found:
(a) Cholesterol levels were 42% lower in depressed patients compared to healthy volunteers.
(b) High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were 42% lower in depressed patients compared to healthy volunteers.
(c) Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were 46% lower in depressed patients compared to healthy volunteers.
(d) Vitamin B12 levels were 21% lower in depressed patients compared to healthy volunteers. (Vitamin B12 can only be found in foods of animal origin, the richest sources are: Oyster's, mussel's, clam's, beef liver, trout, salmon, beef, pork, egg and chicken).
(e) Homocysteine levels were 116% higher in depressed patients compared to healthy volunteers. (High homocysteine levels are associated with deficiencies of vitamins B6, B9 (folate) and B12. The best sources of vitamin B6 are: Tuna, beef liver, chicken liver, pork chops, salmon, halibut, beef and turkey. Good sources of vitamin B9 include: Calf's liver, beef liver, other organ meats and chicken giblet's.

This study showed a significant decrease in vitamin B12, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol coexisting with an increase in homocysteine levels in depressed patients. Increased homocysteine levels could be an indicator of B vitamins deficiency.