A controlled study on serum lipid parameters in individuals with and without major depressive disorder

Background: Evidence seems to suggest that dysfunction in many biological functions is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Literature suggests a possible link between different lipid parameters and depression. Aims: The aim was to study lipid parameters in patients with MDD and to find a correlation between these lipid parameters and depression. Settings and Design: This was a case–control study conducted in outpatient services of the department of psychiatry. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 participants were included in this study. Fifty drug-naïve depression cases as assessed clinically and with Hamilton rating scale for depression were included in the study group, whereas control group comprised fifty normal individuals. Lipid parameters were obtained from fasting blood samples in both groups. Statistical Analysis: Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software. Continuous variables were summarized as mean and standard deviation, whereas categorical variables were summarized as frequency and percentage. Results: The mean total cholesterol (TC) and the mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly low in the study group than the control group. When compared with severity of depression, there was a significant negative correlation with TC (r = −0.710; P = 0.0001), LDL-C (r = −0.608; P = 0.0001), and triglycerides (TG) (r = −0.289; P = 0.042). Conclusions: Drug-naïve individuals with MDD had significantly low TC and LDL-C in comparison to normal individuals. There was a significant negative correlation between the severity of depression and TC, LDL-C, and TG.