Depression and lipoprotein lipids in healthy, postmenopausal women: The moderating effects of hormone replacement therapy
Received 28 April 2003; accepted 25 November 2003.
Abstract
Objective
Naturally occurring low cholesterol levels have been related to increased depressive symptoms in studies conducted predominantly in men. However, depression is more common among women, may increase during the menopause, and may be impacted by hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We therefore examined the potential interactive relation of depressive symptoms and HRT status to lipoprotein lipids among postmenopausal women.
Methods
Seventy healthy, postmenopausal women (ages 50–70; 36% receiving HRT) completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and provided two fasting blood samples for assessment of lipoprotein lipids.
Results
Following statistical adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), HRT status, and depressive symptoms, the interaction of depression and HRT explained 16% variance in total cholesterol and 17% variance in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Ps<.01). Greater levels of depressive symptoms were associated with lower cholesterol levels only among women who were not taking HRT.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that HRT may buffer associations between naturally occurring low cholesterol levels and increased symptoms of depression in postmenopausal women.
aSchool of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, 209 HHD-E, University Park, PA 16802 USA
bDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD, USA
cSchool of Nursing, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
dDepartment of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinic Center (GRECC), Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
ABSTRACT