Serum lipids in a depressive disorder with regard to depression type

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of serum lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cho-lesterol) in relation to a type of depression in patients affected by major dep-ressrve disorder. Subjects and methods: The study included 76 patients affected by depression. Diagnosis of major depressive disorder was made according to the criteria of a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th revision (DSM IV) and by applying HAMD-17 questionnaire. Depression subtypes (melancholic, atypical and dysthymic) were also determined using MINI questionnaire. Serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were determined, by commercial laboratory kits and enzymatic method. VLDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were determined by calculation methods. Results: Using one-way ANCOVA after adjustment for age and BMI, we found significantly lower levels of cholesterol (P = 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.022), cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0.019), and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0.005) in patients with atypical depression than in patients with melancholic or dysthymic type of depressive disorder. Conclusion: Results of our investigation suggested that serum concentrations of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and LDL-choIesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio could be employed as biological markers to differentiate clinical subtypes of depressive disorder.