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Meta-Analysis Reveals Elevated Triglyceride Levels in Major Depressive Disorder Patients

• A comprehensive meta-analysis of 38 studies involving 2,604 MDD patients and 2,372 controls demonstrates significantly higher triglyceride levels in individuals with major depressive disorder.

• The study reveals that factors including age, BMI, and medication use influence triglyceride levels, with stronger associations observed in patients over 45 years and those with BMI ≥ 25.

• These findings suggest a potential mechanism linking depression to increased cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for triglyceride monitoring in MDD patients.

A new meta-analysis has uncovered a significant association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and elevated triglyceride levels, potentially explaining the long-observed connection between depression and cardiovascular events. The research, led by Di-Ru Xu from the Chongqing Medical University, analyzed data from 38 studies comprising 2,604 MDD patients and 2,372 healthy controls.

Key Findings and Statistical Evidence

The analysis revealed significantly higher mean peripheral blood triglyceride levels in MDD patients compared to controls (SMD, 0.31; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.46; P < 0.01). While triglyceride concentrations typically remained within normal range (<150 mg/dl), MDD patients' levels consistently approached the upper limit.

Impact of Patient Characteristics

Detailed subgroup analyses revealed several important patterns:
  • Age-related differences showed stronger associations in patients over 45 years (SMD, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.63) compared to younger patients
  • BMI significantly influenced results, with stronger correlations in patients with BMI ≥ 25 (SMD, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.67)
  • Both medicated and drug-naïve patients showed elevated triglycerides, with slightly higher levels in those on medication

Clinical Implications and Cardiovascular Risk

The findings align with previous research, including a 2023 Johns Hopkins study that identified higher rates of cardiovascular events among young adults with depression. The elevated triglyceride levels may represent a crucial biological link between depression and cardiovascular risk.

Future Research Directions

The research team emphasizes the need for further investigation into several key areas:
  • The role of triglycerides in depression pathogenesis
  • Development of lipid-based biomarkers for MDD monitoring
  • Potential benefits of low-triglyceride dietary interventions for MDD patients
This study provides valuable insights into the biological mechanisms connecting mental health and cardiovascular risk, suggesting new approaches for monitoring and treating patients with MDD.
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Reference News

[1]
Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Have Increased Triglyceride Levels - HCPLive
hcplive.com · Oct 19, 2024

A meta-analysis found elevated triglyceride levels in MDD patients, suggesting a link to cardiovascular events. Triglyce...

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