Psychiatry Investig.  2019 Oct;16(10):737-744. 10.30773/pi.2019.03.24.

The Association between Depressive Mood and Cholesterol Levels in Korean Adolescents

• Kim EJ
• Hong J
• Hwang JW

• KMID: 2462772
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2019.03.24

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have shown that there is a correlation between lipid levels and depressive mood, and that lipids could be useful biomarkers for depression. We conducted this study to clarify the association between lipid levels and depressive mood in adolescents, especially in community samples.
METHODS
We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) that was conducted from 2013 to 2016. A total of 2,454 adolescents aged 12-18 years (1,273 boys, 1,181 girls) participated in the Survey. We conducted a cross-sectional study using multiple logistic regression, adjusting for age, household income, daily energy intake, daily fat intake, and daily cholesterol intake, to assess the association between depressive mood and serum lipid levels.
RESULTS
Depressive mood was found in 8.7% of those included in the study. Borderline (110-129 mg/dL) and high (≥130 mg/dL) levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly associated with depressive mood [Borderline level: odds ratio (OR)=5.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56-19.81, p=0.01; High level: OR=5.73, 95% CI 1.06-31.08, p=0.04]. However, this association was not found in girls.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that depressive mood in boys is associated with higher LDL-C levels. Further investigation regarding this relationship and the underlying biological mechanisms is needed.

Keyword

Adolescents; Depression; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Population-based study; Suicidality

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Biomarkers
Cholesterol*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Energy Intake
Family Characteristics
Female
Humans
Korea
Lipoproteins
Logistic Models
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Biomarkers
Cholesterol
Lipoproteins