Abstract
Background: Serum cholesterol is reported to be associated with suicidality, but studies conducted among general healthy population are rare. We examined the association between serum cholesterol and suicidality in a national sample of the general population of US. Methods: We used the data of 3237 adults aged 17 to 39 years, who completed a mental disorder diagnostic interview and had blood specimens collected after a 12-h fast, as a part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. The serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were dichotomized according to the recommended levels of the National Cholesterol Education Program. A polytomous logistic regression was employed to control for covariates. Results: Independent of socio-demographic variables, health risks and nutrition status, and a history of medical and psychiatric illness (including depression), a significant association between low HDL-C (≤ 40 mg/dl) and increased prevalence of suicide attempts was observed in women (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.07-8.00). No significant evidence was found to support an association between cholesterol and suicide ideation in women. Serum cholesterol was unrelated with either suicide ideation or attempts in men. Limitation: The inherent limitation of cross-sectional design prevented the authors from investigating causality. Conclusions: Low HDL-C is significantly associated with suicide attempts in women. Further studies are necessary to explore the clinical application of serum cholesterol as an indicator for suicide attempts among high risk population.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 25-33 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Affective Disorders |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- NHANES III
- Serum cholesterol
- Suicide attempt
- Suicide ideation
- Young and middle age
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Biological Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Low HDL cholesterol is associated with suicide attempt among young healthy women : The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. / Zhang, Jian; McKeown, Robert E.; Hussey, James R.; Thompson, Shirley J.; Woods, John R.; Ainsworth, Barbara.
In: Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 89, No. 1-3, 12.2005, p. 25-33.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Low HDL cholesterol is associated with suicide attempt among young healthy women
T2 - The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
AU - Zhang, Jian
AU - McKeown, Robert E.
AU - Hussey, James R.
AU - Thompson, Shirley J.
AU - Woods, John R.
AU - Ainsworth, Barbara
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - Background: Serum cholesterol is reported to be associated with suicidality, but studies conducted among general healthy population are rare. We examined the association between serum cholesterol and suicidality in a national sample of the general population of US. Methods: We used the data of 3237 adults aged 17 to 39 years, who completed a mental disorder diagnostic interview and had blood specimens collected after a 12-h fast, as a part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. The serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were dichotomized according to the recommended levels of the National Cholesterol Education Program. A polytomous logistic regression was employed to control for covariates. Results: Independent of socio-demographic variables, health risks and nutrition status, and a history of medical and psychiatric illness (including depression), a significant association between low HDL-C (≤ 40 mg/dl) and increased prevalence of suicide attempts was observed in women (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.07-8.00). No significant evidence was found to support an association between cholesterol and suicide ideation in women. Serum cholesterol was unrelated with either suicide ideation or attempts in men. Limitation: The inherent limitation of cross-sectional design prevented the authors from investigating causality. Conclusions: Low HDL-C is significantly associated with suicide attempts in women. Further studies are necessary to explore the clinical application of serum cholesterol as an indicator for suicide attempts among high risk population.
AB - Background: Serum cholesterol is reported to be associated with suicidality, but studies conducted among general healthy population are rare. We examined the association between serum cholesterol and suicidality in a national sample of the general population of US. Methods: We used the data of 3237 adults aged 17 to 39 years, who completed a mental disorder diagnostic interview and had blood specimens collected after a 12-h fast, as a part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. The serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were dichotomized according to the recommended levels of the National Cholesterol Education Program. A polytomous logistic regression was employed to control for covariates. Results: Independent of socio-demographic variables, health risks and nutrition status, and a history of medical and psychiatric illness (including depression), a significant association between low HDL-C (≤ 40 mg/dl) and increased prevalence of suicide attempts was observed in women (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.07-8.00). No significant evidence was found to support an association between cholesterol and suicide ideation in women. Serum cholesterol was unrelated with either suicide ideation or attempts in men. Limitation: The inherent limitation of cross-sectional design prevented the authors from investigating causality. Conclusions: Low HDL-C is significantly associated with suicide attempts in women. Further studies are necessary to explore the clinical application of serum cholesterol as an indicator for suicide attempts among high risk population.
KW - NHANES III
KW - Serum cholesterol
KW - Suicide attempt
KW - Suicide ideation
KW - Young and middle age
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=28444489270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=28444489270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2005.05.021
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2005.05.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 16263178
AN - SCOPUS:28444489270
VL - 89
SP - 25
EP - 33
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
IS - 1-3
ER -