@article{ref1,
title="Low HDL cholesterol is associated with suicide attempt among young healthy women: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2005",
author="Zhang, Jian and McKeown, Robert E. and Hussey, James R. and Thompson, Shirley J. and Woods, John R. and Ainsworth, Barbara E.",
volume="89",
number="1-3",
pages="25-33",
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 (< or = 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.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2005.05.021",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2005.05.021"
}