Low cholesterol associated with a 320% increased risk of suicide

This study was published in the BMJ 1992 Aug 1;305(6848):277-9

Study title and authors:
Low serum cholesterol concentration and short term mortality from injuries in men and women.

Lindberg G, Råstam L, Gullberg B, Eklund GA.
Centre for Public Health Research, Karlstad, Sweden.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1392858

This study set out to investigate the relationship between cholesterol levels and death rates from injuries including suicide. The study included 26,693 men and 27,692 women, (aged 45-74 years), who were followed for 20.5 years.

The study found:
(a) Those in the lowest 25% of the cholesterol distribution had a 180% increased risk of death from injuries compared to those in the top 25% of the cholesterol distribution.
(b) Those in the lowest 25% of the cholesterol distribution had a 320% increased risk of death from suicide compared to those in the top 25% of the cholesterol distribution.

Lindberg concluded: "Together with observations from intervention trials the findings support the existence of a relation between (lower) serum cholesterol concentration and suicide."

Links to other studies:
Both low cholesterol levels and declining cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of death from suicide in men
Low cholesterol levels are associated with higher rates of attempted suicide
The lower the cholesterol level - the higher the risk of suicide
 

Low cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety

This study was published in Psychosomatic Medicine 1999 May-Jun;61(3):273-9

 

Study title and authors:

Relations of trait depression and anxiety to low lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in healthy young adult women.

Suarez EC.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10367605

 

The NEO depression scale measures the tendency of individuals to experience depressive affect or mood. Scores range from 0 to 32. High scores are indicative of individuals who are prone to feelings of guilt, sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness.

The trait anxiety subscale of the STPI measures an individual’s enduring tendencies to experience anxious moods and anxiety states. STPI anxiety scores range from 10 to 40, with high scores indicating higher anxiety.

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with depression and anxiety. The study included 121 healthy adult women between the ages of 18 and 27 years. Depression was assessed using the NEO depression scale and anxiety was measured by the trait anxiety subscale of the STPI. The women were put into two groups:
(i) Those with cholesterol levels under 4.14 mmol/L (160 mg/dL). (Low cholesterol group)
(ii) Those with cholesterol levels over 4.14 mmol/L (160 mg/dL). (Moderate to high cholesterol group).

The study found:
(a) The women in the low cholesterol group had a 170% increased risk of depression compared with the women in the moderate to high cholesterol group.
(b) The women in the low cholesterol group had a 141% increased risk of anxiety compared with the women in the moderate to high cholesterol group.

Suarez concluded: "Findings from the current study support the general hypothesis that naturally occurring low lipid and lipoprotein concentrations are associated with trait measures of depression and anxiety. These findings are potentially relevant in relation to observations of increased Non Illness Mortality in persons with spontaneously occurring low cholesterol levels as well as to observations of the increased frequency of depression and anxiety in women."

Links to other studies:
Suicide attempters have low cholesterol levels
Low cholesterol associated with depression in elderly men
Low cholesterol levels associated with fatigue and depression

Analysis of 65 studies reveals low cholesterol levels are significantly associated with increased suicide risk

This study was published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 2016 Jan;41(1):56-69

Study title and authors:
Serum lipid levels and suicidality: a meta-analysis of 65 epidemiological studies.

Wu S, Ding Y, Wu F, Xie G, Hou J, Mao P.
Research Center for Clinical Medicine, the 302nd Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26505144

This study was a systematic review of the scientific literature and meta-analysis to determine the association between cholesterol levels and suicide. The analysis included 65 studies with a total of 510,392 participants. The participants were categorized as follows:
(i) patients with various psychiatric diseases (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, personality disorder, drug and alcohol addictions) with suicidality, who were defined as suicidal patients;
(ii) patients with various psychiatric diseases without suicidality, who were defined as nonsuicidal patients;
(iii) healthy participants without any psychiatric disease and suicidality, who were defined as healthy controls.

The study found:
(a) Compared with the nonsuicidal patients, suicidal patients had significantly lower cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels.  
(b) Compared with the healthy controls, suicidal patients had significantly lower cholesterol levels, HDL cholesterol levels and LDL cholesterol levels.
(c) Compared with those with the highest cholesterol levels, participants with lower cholesterol levels had a 112% higher risk of suicidality, including a 123% higher risk of suicide attempt and an 85% higher risk of suicide completion.

Links to other studies:
Suicide attempters have low cholesterol levels
Low cholesterol is associated with major depressive disorder and death from suicide
Low cholesterol is significantly associated with schizophrenia

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

This study was published in Medical Science Monitor 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".

Suicide associated with low cholesterol

This study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders 2004 Aug;81(2):161-6

 

Study title and authors:

Clinical application of low serum cholesterol as an indicator for suicide risk in major depression.

Kim YK, Myint AM

Department of Psychiatry, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. yongku@korea.ac.kr

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15306143

This study explored the relationship between cholesterol levels and suicide risk in patients with depression. The study included 149 major depressive disorder patients admitted to an emergency room following a suicide attempt, 149 non-suicidal depressive controls, and 251 normal controls.

The study found:
(a) Depressed suicidal patients had 21% lower cholesterol levels than the normal subjects.
(b) Depressed non-suicidal patients had 5% lower cholesterol levels than the normal subjects.
(c) In suicide patients, cholesterol levels were 12% lower in violent suicide patients than non-violent suicide patients.

This study suggests that low cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of suicide.

Review finds that low cholesterol levels are linked to higher rates of early death, suicide, aggressive and violent behaviour, personality disorders, depression and dementia

This paper was published in Revista de Neurologia 2009 Mar 1-15;48(5):261-4

 

Study title and authors:

Relation between cholesterol levels and neuropsychiatric disorders

Martínez-Carpio PA, Barba J, Bedoya-Del Campillo A.

Centro Penitenciario de Jóvenes de Barcelona, Generalitat de Catalunya, Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, España. pmc@investilaser.com

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19263395

The researchers conducted a systematic study of the literature that addressed the relationship between low cholesterol levels and neuropsychiatric disorders.

They found that low cholesterol levels are associated and related to different neuropsychiatric disorders. Lowered cholesterol levels seem likely to be linked to higher rates of early death, suicide, aggressive and violent behaviour, personality disorders, and possibly depression, dementia and penal confinement among young males.

An association exists between low cholesterol, suicide, and depression

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1994 Jun;55(6):252-4

 

Study title and authors:

Serum cholesterol levels and suicidal tendencies in psychiatric inpatients.

Modai I, Valevski A, Dror S, Weizman A.

Gehah Psychiatric Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8071280

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cholesterol levels and suicide in psychiatric inpatients. The study include 584 psychiatric inpatients who were divided into three groups:
(i) Patients who had attempted suicide at least once.
(ii) Patients who expressed a suicidal wish or plan during hospitalization or the month before hospitalization.
(iii) Patients who had neither made suicidal gestures nor expressed suicidal thoughts.

The study found:
(a) Patients who had attempted suicide had significantly lower cholesterol levels than nonsuicidal patients.
(b) Patients who were depressed had significantly lower cholesterol levels than patients who were not depressed.

The findings of the study may imply that an association exists between low cholesterol, suicide, and depression.

Suicide attempters have low cholesterol levels

This study was published in European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2010 Jul;19(7):615-9

 

Study title and authors:

Total serum cholesterol levels and suicide attempts in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients.

Plana T, Gracia R, Méndez I, Pintor L, Lazaro L, Castro-Fornieles J.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBER-SAM), C/Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. mtplana@clinic.ub.es

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20047063

This study investigated the association between cholesterol levels and suicidal behavior in adolescent patients. The study included 66 patients (aged 8 to 18 years) admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit following attempted suicide, who were compared with 54 patients with no history of suicide attempts.

The study found that cholesterol levels were significantly lower in attempted suicide patients than in those with no history of suicide attempts.

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.

Suicide attempters have low cholesterol levels

This study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders 2012 Dec 10. pii: S0165-0327(12)00799-9

 

Study title and authors:

Plasma total cholesterol in psychiatric patients after a suicide attempt and in follow-up.

Papadopoulou A, Markianos M, Christodoulou C, Lykouras L.

Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Greece. Electronic address: athanpapad@hotmail.gr.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23237826

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with suicide attempts. The study included 51 subjects who had been admitted to a psychiatric clinic after a suicide attempt, who were compared with normal age-matched subjects.

The study found that the suicide attempters had significantly lower cholesterol levels than the normal subjects.

Low cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour

This study was published in Psychiatria Polska 1996 Sep-Oct;30(5):699-712

Study title and authors:
The study of the relationship between cholesterol and lipid concentration and suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia affective illness
Rybakowski J, Ainiyet J, Szajnerman Z, Zakrzewska M.
Kliniki Psychiatrii Dorosłych AM w Poznaniu.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8984512

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with suicidal behaviour in patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Cholesterol levels were recorded in 143 patients with either schizophrenia, depression, or mania.

The study found:
(a)  Patients with suicidal behaviours had significantly lower levels of cholesterol compared with patients without such behaviours.
(b) Patients with suicidal behaviours had significantly lower levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol compared with patients without such behaviours.

The finding of the study reveal that low cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in patients with psychiatric disorders.

Low cholesterol associated with depression in elderly men

This study was published in the Lancet 1993 Jan 9;341(8837):75-9

Study title and authors:
Plasma cholesterol and depressive symptoms in older men.
Morgan RE, Palinkas LA, Barrett-Connor EL, Wingard DL.
Department of Community and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0628.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8093404

The study investigated the relationship between depressive illness and low cholesterol levels in 1,020 elderly men.

The study found that among men aged 70 years and older, depression was three times more common in the group with low cholesterol levels (less than 4.14 mmol/L or 160 mg/dL) than in those with higher concentrations.
 
Morgan concluded: "Our finding that low plasma cholesterol is associated with depressive symptoms in elderly men is compatible with observations that a very low total cholesterol may be related to suicide and violent death".

Low cholesterol is associated with major depressive disorder and death from suicide

This study was published in the British Journal of Psychiaty 1999 Sep;175:259-62

 

Study title and authors:

Association of low serum total cholesterol with major depression and suicide.

Partonen T, Haukka J, Virtamo J, Taylor PR, Lönnqvist J.

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. timo.partonen@ktl.fi

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10645328

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between total cholesterol levels, depression and suicide. The study included 29,133 men aged 50-69 years who were followed up for 5-8 years.

The study found low total cholesterol levels were associated with low mood and subsequently a heightened risk of hospital treatment due to major depressive disorder and of death from suicide.

The adverse health effects of low cholesterol

This paper was published in Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao (Journal of Peking University) 2010 Oct 18;42(5):612-5

Study title and authors:
Primary and secondary hypocholesterolemia

Song JX, Ren JY, Chen H.
Department of Cardiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20957025

In this review of the literature Song examines the influence of low cholesterol levels (hypocholesterolemia) on health.

He found:
(a) Low cholesterol levels are common in the population.
(b) Physicians pay little attention to the diseases, causes and consequences of low cholesterol in clinical practice.
(c) Low cholesterol levels can result in some adverse events, such as increased death rates, intracerebral hemorrhage, cancer, infection, adrenal failure, suicide and mental disorder.
(d) Despite the adverse health consequences of low cholesterol, physicians are increasingly prescribing cholesterol lowering treatments such as statin drugs.

With all the adverse health effects of low cholesterol Song concludes: "It's high time that physicians attached more importance to hypocholesterolemia."

Links to other studies:
Stroke patients with low cholesterol are more likely to die and have poor neurological outcomes
Low cholesterol levels lead to a 20.2% increase in death rates in those who have had a stroke
Low cholesterol and serious complications after an ischemic stroke

Low cholesterol levels associated with fatigue and depression

This study was published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2002 Feb;52(2):61-3

Study title and authors:

Cholesterol and mood states at 3 days after delivery.

Nasta MT, Grussu P, Quatraro RM, Cerutti R, Grella PV.

Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11832250

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between cholesterol and mood states in women immediately following childbirth. The study included 72 women who had their mood analysed and cholesterol levels measured three days after giving birth.

The study found that women with lower cholesterol levels immediately following childbirth had major feelings of fatigue and a depressed mood.

Low cholesterol is significantly associated with schizophrenia

This study was published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2003 Sep;108(3):208-14

Study title and authors:

Serum leptin and cholesterol levels in schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts.

Atmaca M, Kuloglu M, Tezcan E, Ustundag B.

Departments of Psychiatry and Clinical Biochemistry, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. matmaca_p@yahoo.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12890276

The study examined the association of cholesterol levels in schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts. The study included 16 medication-free schizophrenic patients with and without suicide attempts and in 16 healthy controls.

The study found:
(a) The schizophrenic patients had lower cholesterol levels compared with the controls.
(b) The schizophrenic patients who had attempted suicide had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared with the schizophrenic patients who had not.
(c) Cholesterol levels were lower in violent suicide attempters when compared with non-violent suicide attempters.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol is significantly associated with schizophrenia, especially in suicide attempters and even more so in violent suicide attempters.

Low cholesterol linked to an increased risk of suicide

This study was published in Psychiatry Research 2011 Jun 30;188(1):83-7

 

Study title and author:

Low cholesterol is a risk factor for attentional impulsivity in patients with mood symptoms.

Troisi A.

Department of Neurosciences, University of Rome Tor Vergatta, Rome, Italy. alfonso.troisi@uniroma2.it

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21112642

Troisi notes that attentional impulsivity is a demonstrated risk factor for suicide. Attentional impulsivity is related to mania and depression.

The study examined the relationship between cholesterol levels and attentional impulsivity in 301 patients with mood, anxiety, and personality disorders.

The study found:
(a) Lower cholesterol levels were associated with increased attentional impulsivity.
(b) Participants with cholesterol levels lower than 165mg/dL (4.2 mmol/L) were at a significantly increased risk of attentional impulsivity compared with the rest of the group.

The study shows that low cholesterol is associated with increased attentional impulsivity, and considering that attentional impulsivity is a demonstrated risk factor for suicide, the results of the study suggest that low cholesterol may be linked to an increased risk of suicide.

Links to other studies:
Lowering cholesterol levels lead to an increase in death from accidents, suicide, and violence
Low cholesterol levels associated with violence, antisocial behaviour and premature death
Both low cholesterol levels and declining cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of death from suicide in men

The lower the cholesterol level - the higher the risk of suicide

This study was published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2003 Sep;108(3):215-21

Study title and authors:
Serum lipid levels and suicide attempts.

Lee HJ, Kim YK.
Department of Psychiatry, Korea University, College of Medicine, Ansan City, Korea.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12890277

The objective of the study was to determine whether a correlation exists between lower cholesterol levels and increased suicide risk. Cholesterol levels were measured in 60 patients who had recently experienced failed attempts at suicide and equal numbers of non-suicidal patients.

The study found:
(a) Total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in suicide attempt patients compared to non-suicidal patients.
(b) Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were significantly lower in suicide attempt patients compared to non-suicidal patients.
(c) The lower the cholesterol level - the higher the risk of suicide.

This study shows the lower the cholesterol level - the higher the risk of suicide.

Links to other studies:
Evidence of how low cholesterol leads to suicidal behaviour
Low cholesterol levels are associated with more suicide attempts
Those with the lowest cholesterol levels have more than six times the risk of committing suicide than those with the highest cholesterol levels

Low cholesterol levels are associated with higher rates of attempted suicide

This study was published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry 1999 Oct;41(4):300-6

Study title and authors:
Serum lipid profile in suicide attempters.

Verma S, Trivedi JK, Singh H, Dalal PK, Asthana OP, Srivastava JS, Mishra R, Ramakant, Sinha PK.
SANDEEP VERMA, Senior resident Doctor, Department of Psychiatry, K.G's Medical College, Lucknow.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21430801

This study investigated the association of cholesterol levels with suicidal behaviour. Cholesterol profiles of 40 suicide attempters were compared with 40 non suicidal control subjects.

The study found:
(a) Total cholesterol levels were 8.7% lower in suicide attempters compared to non suicidal subjects.
(b) High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were 1.7% lower in suicide attempters compared to non suicidal subjects.
(c) Levels of "the so called bad" low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were 10.5% lower in suicide attempters compared to non suicidal subjects.

The results of this study show that low cholesterol levels are associated with higher rates of attempted suicide.

Links to other studies:
Low Cholesterol, Depression and Suicide in Women
Lowering cholesterol levels lead to an increase in death from accidents, suicide, and violence
Low cholesterol leads to increased suicide

Both low cholesterol levels and declining cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of death from suicide in men

This study was published in the British Medical Journal 1996 Sep 14;313(7058):649-51

Study title and authors:
Serum cholesterol concentration and death from suicide in men: Paris prospective study I.

Zureik M, Courbon D, Ducimetière P.
National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Unit 258, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8811757

The aim of the study was to investigate whether low cholesterol levels or changing cholesterol levels are associated with the risk of suicide in men.

The study contained 6,393 working men, aged 43-52, who had at least three measurements of their cholesterol levels over a 17 year period.

The study found:
(a) Men with low cholesterol (below 4.78 mmol/l (185 mg/dL)) had a 216% increase in suicide compared with men whose cholesterol was between 4.78-6.21 mmol/l (185-240mg/dL).
(b) Men whose cholesterol levels decreased by more than 0.13 mmol/l (5 mg/dL) a year had an 117% increase in suicide compared with men whose cholesterol remained stable.

To conclude: Both low cholesterol levels and declining cholesterol levels were associated with increased risk of death from suicide in men.