Lower serum vitamin E concentrations in major depression: Another marker of lowered antioxidant defenses in that illness

Objective: Major depression is associated with defective antioxidant defenses. Vitamin E is the major fat soluble antioxidant in the body. The aim of the present study is to examine serum vitamin E concentrations in major depressed patients versus normal volunteers. Method: Serum vitamin E concentra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of affective disorders 2000-06, Vol.58 (3), p.241-246
Main Authors: Maes, Michael, De Vos, Nathalie, Pioli, Rosaria, Demedts, Paul, Wauters, Annick, Neels, Hugo, Christophe, Armand
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Antioxidant
Antioxidants - analysis
Biomarkers - analysis
Case-Control Studies
Cytokines
Cytokines - pharmacology
Depression
Depressive Disorder - pathology
Fatty acids
Female
Humans
Immunity
Immunity, Cellular
Lipid Peroxidation
Male
Middle Aged
Oxidative stress
Vitamin E
Vitamin E - blood
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Summary:Objective: Major depression is associated with defective antioxidant defenses. Vitamin E is the major fat soluble antioxidant in the body. The aim of the present study is to examine serum vitamin E concentrations in major depressed patients versus normal volunteers. Method: Serum vitamin E concentrations were measured in 26 healthy volunteers and 42 major depressed patients by means of HPLC. Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, and serum vitamin E concentrations are strongly related to these of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides, we have adjusted the results for possible differences in these lipids. The numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes were measured. Results: Patients with major depression had significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations than healthy controls. The area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve was 83%. There were significant and negative correlations between serum vitamin E and number of total leukocytes and neutrophils. Conclusions: Major depression is accompanied by significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations, suggesting lower antioxidant defenses against lipid peroxidation. The results could, in part, explain previous findings, which suggest increased lipid peroxidation in major depression.
ISSN:0165-0327
1573-2517
DOI:10.1016/S0165-0327(99)00121-4