Skip to main content
Download PDF
Download ePub

Autonomic nervous system and lipid metabolism: findings in anxious-depressive spectrum and eating disorders

Lipids in Health and Disease volume 10, Article number: 192 (2011) Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To correlate lipid metabolism and autonomic dysfunction with anxious-depressive spectrum and eating disorders. To propose the lipid index (LI) as a new possible biomarker.

Methods

95 patients and 60 controls were enrolled from the University Psychiatry Unit of Catania and from general practitioners (GPs). The patients were divided into four pathological groups: Anxiety, Depression, Anxious-Depressive Disorder and Eating Disorders [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) official/appendix criteria]. The levels of the cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoproteins A and B were determined. The LI, for each subject, was obtained through a mathematical operation on the values of the cholesterol and triglycerides levels compared with the maximum cut-off of the general population. The autonomic functioning was tested with Ewing battery tests. Particularly, the correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) and lipid metabolism has been investigated.

Results

Pathological and control groups, compared among each other, presented some peculiarities in the lipid metabolism and the autonomic dysfunction scores. In addition, a statistically significant correlation has been found between HRV and lipid metabolism.

Conclusions

Lipid metabolism and autonomic functioning seem to be related to the discussed psychiatric disorders. LI, in addition, could represent a new possible biomarker to be considered.

Background

The dysfunctions of lipid metabolism and autonomic nervous system have been found to be linked with anxious-depressive spectrum and eating disorders [1–19], but no definitive conclusions has yet been reached.

The aim of this work is to correlate the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A-B, LI and autonomic dysfunction to depression, anxiety, anxious-depressive disorder and eating disorders. In addition, the correlation between HRV and lipid metabolism has been tested.

Methods

95 patients (32 men and 63 women, mean age 46.0 SD ± 15.5) and 60 controls (36 men and 24 women, mean age 50.5 SD ± 10.8) were enrolled from the University Psychiatry Unit of Catania and from GPs. The demographic characteristics of the pathological and control groups are reported in Table 1.

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the sample
Full size table

The local ethics committee approved this study (n. 321 register of trials), and all participants signed an informed consent.

Subjects with familial dyslipidemia, heart disease and psychotic disorders were excluded from the study.

Four pathological groups were created: Anxiety, Depression, Anxious-Depressive Disorder and Eating Disorders (ED) (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder). The diagnoses were formulated according to the criteria of the DSM-IV-TR (official/appendix criteria)[20].

Figure 1 shows the distribution of the pathological groups.

Figure 1
figure 1

(Distribution of pathological groups)-Legend: the percentages of the pathological groups within the sample are shown.

Full size image

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning was evaluated with the Ewing battery of tests through an electrocardiograph and a sphygmomanometer; particularly: Deep Breathing, Lying-to-Standing, Valsalva Manoeuvre and Sustained Handgrip tests [21, 22]. Scores from 1 (mild) to 5 (severe) were considered parameters of autonomic dysfunction, passing through intermediate values of severity [23].

Particularly, the correlation between HRV (time-domain method) and lipid metabolism has been investigated.

Cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoproteins A and B were analyzed through fasting blood samples. All the analyses were repeated three times.

Normal fasting rates of triglycerides range from 50 to 160 mg/dl; normal fasting rates of cholesterol range from 100 to 200 mg/dl [24].

All the subjects' rates of cholesterol and triglycerides were compared to the maximum cut-off of the general population (subject cholesterolemia/200; subject trigliceridemia/160) thus creating two ratios: cholesterol index (CI) and triglycerides index (TI).

Through the operation CI - TI the LI was obtained. A positive index number means that the cholesterol production is prevalent, while a negative one indicates a prevalent triglycerides production.

A value of + 0,15 or - 0,15 could be taken as 0, since it could be considered an irrelevant nutritional variation.

Data analysis

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, 2000) was used. T-test and Z test were used. The association between categorical descriptive variables was tested through paired-samples t-test.

Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the results regarding the Ewing score. Pearson correlation has been performed to find possible correlations between HRV and lipid metabolism. The p values were then obtained with t-test. Values of p ≤0.05, < 0.01 and < 0.001 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Lipid Metabolism

Cholesterol

The anxious-depressive disorder group, compared to all the other groups (anxiety: t = 2,27, p < 0,025; depression: t = 3,42, p < 0,005; ED: t = 2,94, p < 0,005), and to the control group(t = 1,75, p < 0,05), presented lower levels of cholesterol.

With regards to the other groups, their cholesterol levels were higher compared to the control group, but there was not a statistically significant difference between the pathological groups compared among each other.

Triglycerides

The anxiety and anxious-depressive disorder groups, compared among each other, did not present a statistically significant difference in the triglycerides levels, but they both presented significantly higher triglycerides levels compared to all the other groups and to the control group (the anxiety group versus: depression: t = 4,5, p < 0,005; ED: t = 6,31, p < 0,05; control group: t = 5,41, p < 0,005); (the anxious-depressive disorder group versus: depression: t = 6,7, p < 0,005; ED t = 10,7, p < 0,005; control group: t = 2,91, p < 0,005).

The depression group presented lower triglycerides levels, when compared to anxiety, anxious-depressive disorder and control groups (Z = 4,46, p < 0,001); higher triglycerides levels, when compared to the eating disorders group (t = 3,36, p < 0,005), which presented lower triglycerides levels than in all the pathological and control groups (t = 8,31, p < 0,005).

LI

The eating disorders group presented the highest LI among the pathological and control groups (depression: t = 4,75, p < 0,005; anxiety: t = 5,87, p < 0,005; anxious-depressive disorders: t = 14, p < 0,005; control group: t = 12,5, p < 0,005). The LI, among the anxiety and anxious-depressive disorder groups, did not present a statistically significant difference, but it was significantly lower than that of the control group and of the other pathological groups (t = 2, p < 0,05). In terms of average, the anxious-depressive disorder group presented the lowest LI of the whole sample of the study.

The depression group presented, therefore, a higher LI than did the anxiety (t = 3.5, p < 0.005) and anxious-depressive disorder groups (t = 9,25, p < 0,005), but did not present a statistically significant difference compared to the control group.

Apolipoproteins A and B

The general population maximum cut-off was not exceeded either in the pathological groups or in the control one. Nevertheless, the anxious-depressive disorder group presented higher levels of Apolipoproteins A, compared to the other groups and to the control group. This same pattern was observed for Apolipoproteins B, only in the anxiety group.

For more details about the results regarding lipid metabolism, see Table 2.

Table 2 Demographic data and serum lipid levels in pathological and control groups
Full size table

Autonomic Nervous System Functioning

Among the pathological groups, the most represented autonomic dysfunctions were at a mild-mild/moderate level (see Figure 2). Among the control group, 51.7% did not present autonomic dysfunctions, 33.3% presented mild dysautonomia and 15.0% presented mild/moderate dysautonomia. In contrast to the pathological groups, the control group did not present other, more severe, dysautonomia levels. All the pathological groups presented a statistically significant difference compared to the control group considering mild/moderate dysautonomia (Mann Whitney test for n > 20, Z = 30 p < 0,001). In terms of average, the highest Ewing score was in the anxious-depressive disorder group. For more details, see Table 3.

Figure 2
figure 2

(Ewing score of patients)-Legend: the distribution of the different levels of the autonomic dysfunctions within the whole pathological sample is shown in percentage.

Full size image
Table 3 Sample's Ewing score
Full size table

With regards, in particular, to HRV, there was not a statistically significant difference among the pathological groups (p > 0,1). When compared to the control group, only the depression and anxiety groups presented a statistically significant difference (p = 0,05). The anxious-depressive group, in terms of mean value, is the group with the lowest HRV of the whole sample (33,1 ± 10,2). Considering the whole sample, the correlation between ANS and lipid metabolism has been investigated, referring in particular to HRV, with highly statistically significant results (p < 0,01). HRV and LI presented a positive correlation: the anxious-depressive disorder group, in fact, presented the lowest LI (showing to be the group with the most severe triglycerides hyperproduction) and the lowest HRV. Correspondingly, this group was the one with the highest average of Ewing score. HRV has been found to be inversely related to the triglycerides levels and positively related to the cholesterol levels; these results confirmed the HRV-LI correlation. Apolipoproteins A presented a negative correlation to HRV. The opposite has been found for Apolipoproteins B. For more details, see Table 4.

Table 4 HRV and Lipid metabolism
Full size table

Conclusions

Lipid metabolism and autonomic functioning seem to be related to the discussed psychiatric disorders.

In a context of enhancing knowledge, the lipid index could represent another biomarker to be taken into consideration.

Our findings are far from being definitive, also considering the small sample size and some disparities in male and female distribution. Further studies are necessary.

Abbreviations

LI:

Lipid index

GPs:

general practitioners

DSM- IV-TR:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision

HRV:

Heart rate variability

ED:

Eating Disorders

ANS:

Autonomic nervous system

CI:

Cholesterol index

TI:

Triglycerides index.

References

  1. Bajwa WK, Asnis GM, Sanderson WC, Irfan A, van Praag HM: High cholesterol levels in patients with panic disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 1992, 149: 376-378.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rafter D: Biochemical markers of anxiety and depression. Psychiatry Res. 2001, 103: 93-96. 10.1016/S0165-1781(01)00251-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Sevincok L, Buyukozturk A, Dereboy F: Serum lipid concentrations in patients with comorbid generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Can J Psychiatry. 2001, 46: 68-71.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Agargun MY, Dulger H, Inci R, Kara H, Ozer OA, SekereÄŸlu MR, Besiroglu L: Serum concentrations in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients with and without panic attacks. Can J Psychiatry. 2004, 49: 776-778.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Shin JY, Suls J, Martin R: Are Cholesterol and Depression Inversely Related? A meta-analysis of the association between two cardiac risk factors. Ann Behav Med. 2008, 36: 33-43. 10.1007/s12160-008-9045-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Roehrig M, Masheb RM, White MA, Grilo CM: Dieting Frequency in Obese Patients With Binge Eating Disorder: Behavioral and Metabolic Correlates. Obesity. 2009, 174: 689-697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Case T, Lemieux S, Kennedy SH, Lewis GF: Elevated plasma lipids in patients with binge eating disorders are found only in those who are anorexic. Int J Eat Disord. 1999, 25: 187-193. 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199903)25:2<187::AID-EAT8>3.0.CO;2-9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Sullivan PF, Gendall KA, Bulik CM, Carter FA, Joyce PR: Elevated total cholesterol in bulimia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord. 1998, 23: 425-432. 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199805)23:4<425::AID-EAT10>3.0.CO;2-V

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Rosolová H, Podlipný J: Anxious-depressive disorders and metabolic syndrome. Vnitr Lek. 2009, 55: 650-652.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Maes M, Smith R, Christophe A, Vandoolaeghe E, Van Gastel A, Demedts P, Wauters A, Meltzer HY: Lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in major depression and in depressed men with serious suicidal attempts: relationship with immune-inflammatory markers. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1997, 95: 212-221. 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1997.tb09622.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim YK, Myint AM: Clinical application of low serum cholesterol as an indicator for suicide risk in major depression. J Affect Disord. 2004, 81: 161-166. 10.1016/S0165-0327(03)00166-6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Peter H, Hand I, Hohagen F, Koenig A, Mindermann O, Oeder F, Wittich M: Serum cholesterol level comparison: control subjects, anxiety disorder patients, and obsessive-compulsive disorder patients. Can J Psychiatry. 2002, 47: 557-561.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nesse RM, Cameron OG, Curtis GC, Mc Cann DS, Huber-Smith MJ: Adrenergic function in patients with panic anxiety. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1984, 41: 771-776.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Murialdo G, Casu M, Falchero M, Brugnolo A, Patrone V, Cerro PF, Ameri P, Andraghetti G, Briatore L, Capello F, Cordera R, Rodriguez G, Ferro AM: Alterations in the autonomic control of heart rate variability in patients with anorexia or bulimia nervosa: correlations between sympathovagal activity, clinical features, and leptin levels. J Endocrinol Invest. 2007, 30: 356-362.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lachish M, Stein D, Kaplan Z, Matar M, Faigin M, Korsunski I, Cohen H: Irreversibility of cardiac autonomic dysfunction in female adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa after short- and long-term weight gain. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2009, 10: 503-511. 10.1080/15622970902980770

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kalk NJ, Nutt DJ, Lingford-Hughes AR: The role of central noradrenergic dysregulation in anxiety disorders: evidence from clinical studies. J Psychopharmacol. 2011, 25: 3-16. 10.1177/0269881110367448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Choi CJ, Kim KS, Kim CM: Reactivity of heart rate variability after exposure to colored lights in healthy adults with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Int J Psychophysiol. 2011, 79: 83-88. 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.09.011

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kop WJ, Synowski SJ, Gottlieb SS: Depression in heart failure: biobehavioral mechanisms. Heart Fail Clin. 2011, 7: 23-38. 10.1016/j.hfc.2010.08.011

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Möller-Leimkühler AM: Higher comorbidity of depression and cardiovascular disease in women: a biopsychosocial perspective. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2010, 11: 922-933. 10.3109/15622975.2010.523481

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. American Psychiatric Press: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 2000, Text Revision, Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press, Fourth,

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ewing DJ, Clarke BF: Diagnosis and management of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Br Med J. 1982, 285: 916-918. 10.1136/bmj.285.6346.916.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ziegler D, Laux G, Dannehl K, Spüler M, Mühlen H, Mayer P, Gries FA: Assessment of cardiovascular autonomic function: age-related normal ranges and reproducibility of spectral analysis, vector analysis, and standard tests of heart rate variation and blood pressure responses. Diabetic Med. 1992, 9: 166-175. 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1992.tb01754.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Vinik AI, Erbas T, Pfeifer M, Feldman EL, Stevens MJ, Russell JW: Diabetic autonomic neuropathy. The Diabetes mellitus Manual: A Primary Care Companion to Ellenberg and Rifkin's. Edited by: Inzucchi SE. 2004, New York: McGraw Hill, 6,

    Google Scholar 

  24. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: National Cholesterol Education Program. Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). National Institutes of Health, September 2002 [http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/atp3full.pdf], Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). National Institutes of Health, September 2002

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgery Specialties-Psychiatry Unit, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", (Via S. Sofia 78), Catania, (95100), Italy

    Elisabetta Pistorio, Maria Luca, Vincenzo Messina & Carmela Calandra

  2. Department of Neuroscience, University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", (Via S. Sofia 78), Catania, (95100), Italy

    Antonina Luca

Authors
  1. Elisabetta Pistorio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Luca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonina Luca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vincenzo Messina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carmela Calandra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmela Calandra.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

EP collected data, interpreted the results, and helped draft the manuscript.

ML, AL, VM assisted with collecting data, interpreting the results and drafting the manuscript. CC designed the study, interpreted the results, and helped draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Authors’ original file for figure 2

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pistorio, E., Luca, M., Luca, A. et al. Autonomic nervous system and lipid metabolism: findings in anxious-depressive spectrum and eating disorders. Lipids Health Dis 10, 192 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-10-192

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-10-192

Keywords

Lipids in Health and Disease

ISSN: 1476-511X