Lack of replication of the association of low serum cholesterol and attempted suicide in another country raises more questions

Jose De Leon, Paula Mallory, Lorraine Maw, Margaret T. Susce, M. Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez, Enrique Baca-Garcia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2 Spanish case-control studies, low cholesterol levels in males were consistently associated with suicide attempts. METHODS: This US study tried to replicate the association between low cholesterol levels and suicide attempts, using a case-control design to study all patients admitted to Eastern State Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, during a 1-year period. Psychiatric patients who had currently attempted suicide were studied as cases, and psychiatric patients who had not currently attempted suicide served as controls. A fasting serum total cholesterol <160 mg/dL was considered a possible risk factor for suicide. Logistic regression provided an adjusted estimate of the univariate odds ratios (ORs) for confounding factors. RESULTS: There were 193 current suicide attempters (cases) and 1091 non-current suicide attempters (controls). In the total sample logistic regression model, low cholesterol levels were significantly associated with lower risk of current suicide attempt (OR, 0.60; confidence interval (CI), 0.39 to 0.92) after adjusting for confounding variables. After sex stratification, low cholesterol levels were significant only among men (OR, 0.47; CI, 0.26 to 0.86). This US study did not replicate our prior Spanish findings; to the contrary, low cholesterol levels were not associated with increased suicide risk but with a decreased risk in US men. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible cholesterol abnormalities and low body mass index may be markers of suicide risk, particularly in some male patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)163-170
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of Clinical Psychiatry
Volume23
Issue number3
StatePublished - Aug 2011

Keywords

  • Alcohol-related disorders
  • Body mass index
  • Cholesterol
  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia
  • Suicide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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