Relationship of Serum Lipid Profiles and Serotonin with Major Depression: A Matched Case-Control Study

Aims: Depression is a common mental disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum lipid profiles and serum serotonin with depressive disorder. Materials Methods: This study was carried out on patients with depressive disorders referred to Shahid Mofteh Clinic in Yasuj, Iran, in 2016. The total serum cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, and serum serotonin of 45 patients with the depressive disorder as a case group and 45 normal people without depressive disorder as a control group was measured. Age, sex, weight, and height were matched in both groups. Diagnosis of depression was conducted using both the Beck and Hamilton depression rating scale, followed by an interview by a psychiatrist. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 19 software by sample t-test and the chi-square test. Findings: The LDL-C serum concentrations of the case group was higher than the control group (121.1±30.9 vs107.9±36.9; p=0.07); moreover, the HDL-C serum of the case group was significantly lower than the control group (52.6±11.9 vs. 34.4±9; p 0.0001). The Serum serotonin of the case group was higher than the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (455.9±393 vs. 418.1±224.4; p=0.58). The total cholesterol and Triglyceride of the case group were higher than the control group, but these differences were not statistically significant (178±37.8 vs. 191.2±47 and 127.4±56.2 vs. 148.5±88.4 respectively; p=0.14). Conclusion: The serum HDL-C concentration of depressed patients is lower than normal people, and the serum LDL-C concentration of depressed patients is higher than normal people.