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Authors: Peter Bongiorno
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levels can cause symptoms that contribute to depressive illness. Every comprehensive blood test should include a chemistry panel.
Test: Lipid Panel
If you thought cholesterol when you read that header, you were right. A lipid panel basically checks the fasting baseline levels of the fats running around in your blood. Cardiologists and primary doctors usually check these to make sure they are not too high, but I want you to check them to make sure they are not too low. Let me explain.
I have seen low total cholesterol play a role in many depression cases. Although your psychiatrist or cardiologist may not be thinking about this, the research is very clear. Cholesterol is an important mood molecule for two reasons: it helps produce your steroid hormones, and it helps your brain recognize and use serotonin. As the parent of many important molecules in your body, cholesterol is the precursor to all steroid hormones, including glucocorticoids (for blood sugar regulation), mineralocorticoids (which maintain mineral balance and blood pressure regulation), and sex hormones (which have a strong role in mood, as we will discuss). It seems likely that low cholesterol may restrict the availability of steroidal compounds for your body. Maintaining normal cholesterol levels is also important for the function of the receptors in the brain that recognize serotonin.
A Statin Island of Woe?
While antidepressants are the most prescribed drugs in America, cholesterol-lowering medications are the number one moneymaking medication in this country—and around the world. In the marketed interest of saving more hearts, the cut-off range for high cholesterol has been lowered in the last few years, allowing more prescriptions. However, mounting medical research tells us that the more we lower cholesterol, the worse our mood can get.
Known as statins, cholesterol medications work by blocking a key enzyme involved in the body's production of cholesterol. Lab tests have shown that statin medication significantly disturbs the structure and function of serotonin cell receptors. When researchers added cholesterol to cells treated with statins, they came back to normal and responded to serotonin.
Other studies have suggested that statins lower needed polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain as well. Some studies demonstrate that low postpartum levels of total cholesterol have been associated with symptoms of depression and increased relapse rates in people who have already suffered from depression.
Get Your Good Cholesterol Even Better
Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL—the good cholesterol) are a known risk factor in cardiovascular disease. HDL carries bad cholesterol away from the artery walls and plays a role in toxin removal. HDL cholesterol levels are also found to be low in major depression patients and even lower in people who think about suicide. One study looked at HDL levels and mood and concluded that HDL cholesterol can be used as a marker for major depression and suicidal behavior.
How to Treat Low HDL
While conventional doctors consider low HDL to be under 40, I recommend that anyone with HDL levels under 60 work to increase them. This can be done with natural medicine treatments such as stopping smoking, exercising, and taking fish oil. Moderate alcohol consumption (one to two drinks per day) can also help increase HDL cholesterol levels. Foods that can help include oranges, dark chocolate, extra virgin olive oil, hibiscus, and black tea. The fiber supplement beta-glucan can also raise good cholesterol levels. I have a number of healthy patients with HDL levels way above 100—as of this writing, I know no reason to be concerned about high HDL levels. It seems the higher, the better.
Test: Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a well-known marker of inflammation. Some medical professionals believe it to be a more accurate marker of inflammation than even cholesterol. The plasma
Test: Lipid Panel
If you thought cholesterol when you read that header, you were right. A lipid panel basically checks the fasting baseline levels of the fats running around in your blood. Cardiologists and primary doctors usually check these to make sure they are not too high, but I want you to check them to make sure they are not too low. Let me explain.
I have seen low total cholesterol play a role in many depression cases. Although your psychiatrist or cardiologist may not be thinking about this, the research is very clear. Cholesterol is an important mood molecule for two reasons: it helps produce your steroid hormones, and it helps your brain recognize and use serotonin. As the parent of many important molecules in your body, cholesterol is the precursor to all steroid hormones, including glucocorticoids (for blood sugar regulation), mineralocorticoids (which maintain mineral balance and blood pressure regulation), and sex hormones (which have a strong role in mood, as we will discuss). It seems likely that low cholesterol may restrict the availability of steroidal compounds for your body. Maintaining normal cholesterol levels is also important for the function of the receptors in the brain that recognize serotonin.
A Statin Island of Woe?
While antidepressants are the most prescribed drugs in America, cholesterol-lowering medications are the number one moneymaking medication in this country—and around the world. In the marketed interest of saving more hearts, the cut-off range for high cholesterol has been lowered in the last few years, allowing more prescriptions. However, mounting medical research tells us that the more we lower cholesterol, the worse our mood can get.
Known as statins, cholesterol medications work by blocking a key enzyme involved in the body's production of cholesterol. Lab tests have shown that statin medication significantly disturbs the structure and function of serotonin cell receptors. When researchers added cholesterol to cells treated with statins, they came back to normal and responded to serotonin.
Other studies have suggested that statins lower needed polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain as well. Some studies demonstrate that low postpartum levels of total cholesterol have been associated with symptoms of depression and increased relapse rates in people who have already suffered from depression.
Get Your Good Cholesterol Even Better
Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL—the good cholesterol) are a known risk factor in cardiovascular disease. HDL carries bad cholesterol away from the artery walls and plays a role in toxin removal. HDL cholesterol levels are also found to be low in major depression patients and even lower in people who think about suicide. One study looked at HDL levels and mood and concluded that HDL cholesterol can be used as a marker for major depression and suicidal behavior.
How to Treat Low HDL
While conventional doctors consider low HDL to be under 40, I recommend that anyone with HDL levels under 60 work to increase them. This can be done with natural medicine treatments such as stopping smoking, exercising, and taking fish oil. Moderate alcohol consumption (one to two drinks per day) can also help increase HDL cholesterol levels. Foods that can help include oranges, dark chocolate, extra virgin olive oil, hibiscus, and black tea. The fiber supplement beta-glucan can also raise good cholesterol levels. I have a number of healthy patients with HDL levels way above 100—as of this writing, I know no reason to be concerned about high HDL levels. It seems the higher, the better.
Test: Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a well-known marker of inflammation. Some medical professionals believe it to be a more accurate marker of inflammation than even cholesterol. The plasma
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