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
 

Rising cholesterol levels predict survival, whilst falling cholesterol levels predicts death in people who have suffered severe injuries

This study was published in Critical Care 2003 Dec;7(6):R145-53

Study title and authors:

Following severe injury, hypocholesterolemia improves with convalescence but persists with organ failure or onset of infection.

Dunham CM, Fealk MH, Sever WE 3rd.

Assistant Director, Trauma/Critical Care Services, St, Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, Ohio, USA. Michael_Dunham@hmis.org

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14624689

The objective of the study was to determine the association of cholesterol levels and severe traumatic injury. The study included 28 severely injured trauma patients.

The study found:
(a) The cholesterol levels in those who survived their severe injuries increased by 28%.
(b) The cholesterol levels of those who died of their severe injuries decreased by 33%.

The resulys of the study show that a rising cholesterol level predicts survival, and a falling cholesterol level predicts death in people who have suffered severe injuries.

Links to other studies:
A review of 150 studies finds an association between low cholesterol and death from injury
Lowering cholesterol levels lead to an increase in death from accidents, suicide, and violence

A review of 150 studies finds an association between low cholesterol and death from injury

This paper was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1994 May 15;120(10):848-55

Study title and authors:
The association between cholesterol and death from injury.

Cummings P, Psaty BM.
University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8154645

The paper reviewed over 150 studies concerning the association between low cholesterol and death from injury.

The review found:
(a) Men whose cholesterol levels were lower than 4.14 mmol/L (160 mg/dL) had a 40% higher risk of death from injury compared with men whose cholesterol levels were 4.14 to 5.15 mmol/L.
(b) In trials where the objective was cholesterol reduction, those who were treated with cholesterol reducing regimes were had a 42% higher risk of death from injury compared with those who had no treatment.

To conclude: This review of 150 studies found an association between low cholesterol and death from injury.