Atherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic coefficient are increased in major depression and bipolar disorder, especially when comorbid with tobacco use disorder

Sandra Odebrecht Vargas Nunes; Luiz Gustavo Piccoli de Melo; Márcia Regina Pizzo de Castro; Décio Sabbatini Barbosa; Heber Odebrecht Vargas; Michael Berk; Michael Maes

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.09.038

Atherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic coefficient are increased in major depression and bipolar disorder, especially when comorbid with tobacco use disorder

J Affect Disord. 2015 Feb 1:172:55-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.09.038. Epub 2014 Sep 30.

Authors

Sandra Odebrecht Vargas Nunes¹, Luiz Gustavo Piccoli de Melo², Márcia Regina Pizzo de Castro², Décio Sabbatini Barbosa³, Heber Odebrecht Vargas¹, Michael Berk⁴, Michael Maes⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Health Sciences Center, Londrina State University, University Hospital, Brazil; Center of Approach and Treatment for Smokers, University Hospital, Londrina State University, University Campus, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
² Center of Approach and Treatment for Smokers, University Hospital, Londrina State University, University Campus, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
³ Department of Clinical Analysis and Toxicological, State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁴ Impact Strategic Research Center, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Orygen Youth Health Research Centre and the Centre of Youth Mental Health, The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia.
⁵ Impact Strategic Research Center, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Health Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Brazil. Electronic address: dr.michaelmaes@hotmail.com.

PMID: 25451396
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.09.038

Abstract

Background: There is a robust comorbidity between mood disorders and cardiovascular disorder (CVD). The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and the atherogenic coefficient (AC) are important atherogenic indexes. The aims of this study were to delineate whether AIP and AC are increased in mood disorders especially when comorbid with tobacco use disorder (TUD).

Methods: In this case-control study we included 134 patients with mood disorders, bipolar disorder and unipolar depression (cases), and 197 individuals without mood disorder (controls) divided into those with and without TUD (defined as never-smokers). Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) were measured. AIP and AC were computed as log (TG/HDLc) and non-HDLc/HDLc, respectively.

Results: The AIP and AC indexes were significantly increased in patients with mood disorders versus controls, both in depression and bipolar disorder. Patients with mood disorder without TUD and patients with TUD without mood disorder showed higher AIP and AC values than never-smokers while those with comorbid mood disorders and TUD showed significantly higher AIP and AC levels than all other individuals. A large part of the variance in the AIC (26.4%) and AC (20.4%) was explained by mood disorders, TUD, male gender and body mass index.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that lipid abnormalities leading to an increased atherogenic potential are involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder) and especially comorbid mood disorder and TUD. The comorbidity between mood disorders and CVD may be partly explained increased through AIP and AC indexes, impacting increments in atherogenic potential.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Castelli risk index; Depression; Metabolic syndrome; Tobacco use disorder.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Atherosclerosis / blood
Bipolar Disorder / blood*
Body Mass Index
Cardiovascular Diseases / blood*
Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
Case-Control Studies
Cholesterol, HDL / blood
Cholesterol, LDL / blood
Comorbidity
Depressive Disorder, Major / blood*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mood Disorders / blood*
Plasma / metabolism
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Tobacco Use Disorder / blood*
Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology
Triglycerides / blood

Substances

Cholesterol, HDL
Cholesterol, LDL
Triglycerides