OnHealth Low Cholesterol Tied to Depression

March 23, 2000

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Tied to Depression

Thursday, March 23, 2000

Low Cholesterol Tied to Depression

You've heard about all the problems associated with high cholesterol

levels, but what happens if your cholesterol is very low?

Well, a new study links symptoms of depression to chronically low

cholesterol levels in middle-age men. Researchers from University Medical

Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands, questioned 700 middle-age and elderly

men about their lifestyle, diet, psychological well-being and medical

history. Cholesterol levels were checked at the beginning of the study and

then three years later.

Chronically low cholesterol levels were associated with an elevated

risk of severe depression -- four to seven times higher -- compared to other

men. Recent weight loss and low caloric intake were also linked to

depression, researchers report in the March issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

Researchers say it's a mystery why cholesterol levels are connected to

depression. " Because there has been so little research in this arena, the

reasons why low cholesterol influences the occurrence of depressive symptoms

are unknown, " says study co-author Dr. Diederick E. Grobbee. " This study

provides further evidence that there is a relationship and reinforces the

need to look at the reasons for the relationship. "

--By Katrina Woznicki

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