HEALTHY DIETS AND SCIENCE: The association between suicidal behavior and low levels of cholesterol in people with schizophrenia.

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David Evans

Independent Health Researcher

Thursday, 20 November 2014

The association between suicidal behavior and low levels of cholesterol in people with schizophrenia.

2014 Aug 21;20:1486-90

Study title and authors:

Suicidal behavior in schizophrenia may be related to low lipid levels.

Ainiyet B, Rybakowski JK

Department of Psychiatry, Akerhus Universytetssykehus, Oslo, Norway.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25141886

The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between suicidal behaviour and cholesterol levels in schizophrenia patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital during the three months prior to their admission. The study included 148 (69 males, 79 females) schizophrenia patients with an average age of 32 years, all recently admitted to psychiatric hospital due to acute exacerbation of their mental illness.

The study found:
(a) Schizophrenic men with suicidal thoughts had 21% lower cholesterol levels than schizophrenic men without suicidal thoughts.
(b) Schizophrenic men who attempted suicide had 27% lower cholesterol levels than schizophrenic men without suicidal thoughts.
(c) Schizophrenic women with suicidal thoughts had 26% lower cholesterol levels than schizophrenic women without suicidal thoughts.
(d) Schizophrenic women who attempted suicide had 31% lower cholesterol levels than schizophrenic women without suicidal thoughts.
(e) Schizophrenic men with suicidal thoughts had 21% lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than schizophrenic men without suicidal thoughts.
(f) Schizophrenic men who attempted suicide had 36% lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL)cholesterol than schizophrenic men without suicidal thoughts.
(g) Schizophrenic women with suicidal thoughts had 30% lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than schizophrenic women without suicidal thoughts.
(h) Schizophrenic women who attempted suicide had 35% lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than schizophrenic women without suicidal thoughts.
(i) Schizophrenic men with suicidal thoughts had 37% lower triglyceride levels than schizophrenic men without suicidal thoughts.
(j) Schizophrenic men who attempted suicide had 56% lower triglyceride levels than schizophrenic men without suicidal thoughts.
(k) Schizophrenic women with suicidal thoughts had 40% lower triglyceride levels than schizophrenic women without suicidal thoughts.
(l) Schizophrenic women who attempted suicide had 41% lower triglyceride levels than schizophrenic women without suicidal thoughts.

Ainiyet concluded: "The results of our study add to a growing body of evidence showing the association between suicidal behavior and low levels of total cholesterol in people with schizophrenia. In addition, we found that this association may also apply to low total lipids, and, in most cases, to low LDL cholesterol and triglycerides".