I really don't know what to say about this abstract. Unless I am getting it entirely wrong, don't total cholesterol and triglycerides tend to rise with low FT4?
Anyway, it has certainly previously been reported that it is vital to consider the possibility of statins causing or worsening depression by lowering cholesterol: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/237...
Low serum free thyroxine level is correlated with lipid profile in depressive patients with suicide attempt
Rui Peng
Wen Dai
Yan Li
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
•Serum TC, TG and FT4 levels decrease in suicide attempters.
•FT4 is positively associated with TC.
•TSH is positively associated with HDL.
•TC and FT4 are correlated with the suicide attempts.
Abstract
The present research was carried out to observe the relationships between serum free triiothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and lipid profile and suicide risk in depressive subjects. Serum concentrations of albumin, total bilrubin, uric acid, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), FT3, FT4 and TSH were measured in 271 patients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder (202 subjects without suicidal behavior and 69 suicide attempters). A significant decrease in serum TC, TG and FT4 levels was found in suicide attempters with major depressive disorder compared with non-suicide attempters (all p < 0.0025). For the other biochemical factors levels (albumin, total bilrubin, uric acid, HDL, LDL, hs-CRP, FT3, and TSH), there were no significant differences between suicide attempters and non-suicide attempters. Relativity analysis suggested that FT4 is positively and significantly correlated with TC (p < 0.0025); TSH is positively associated with HDL (p < 0.0025). Univariate analysis showed that serum TC and FT4 abundances are correlated with the suicide attempts in major depressive subjects. This research demonstrated that the levels of serum TC, TG, and FT4 levels in suicidal patients were greatly decreased compared with patients without suicidal behavior. These findings support the hypothesis that low serum FT4 level affects lipid profile in major depressive patients with suicidal attempt.
A low fat diet is also more likely for people to commit heinous crimes. I have a vague memory of a front page Guardian article a few years ago which cited new medical research demonstrating that as the brain is composed of fat-enveloped cells, reducing (the good) fats in the diet has a direct effect on the brain and could lead to some people being more vulnerable to committing murder! Alas I don't have the reference.
Interesting article! My great great grandfather tried to hang himself though don't know any details. After the death of his first wife-natural causes he tried to slit tbe throat of his second wife, my great great grandmother and then his own. They both recovered but he was sentenced to be hanged as intended murder carried the same sentence then but he got a reprieve (may be because the law was due to change later in the year) so was sent to Gibraltar for 12 years, returned after 10 for good behaviour but then managed to hang himself a few years later in 1873. He was drunk at the time and I suspect often was but had a good business in that he was a butcher but also bred his own stock and had men working for him.
I haven't a photo of him but the description in his court notes made me think he could have had a thyroid problem. He didn't have any unsavoury vices to my knowledge other than enjoying a drink but your findings helvella have struck a chord!
What a sad story that may have been prevented by proper thyroid care. And so many family members affected. I am sorry your family members had to endure so much. Take care. irina
More strange that fT3 didn't show a different between the two groups. Makes me suspicious about the methods
When I read the abstract, imo, there is a GLARING omission in the research. There is no inclusion of Vitamin level info on how low VitD, ferritin, and esp folate and Vit B12 affect the nevous system and contribute to neuro and psychiatric sx. Low Vit D levels, for example, can cause severe muscle and joint aches and pains. And it is well-documented how chronic pain is a major factor in suicide attempts. Also Vit B12 deficiency is behind so many severe neuro and psych symptoms I don't understand how a study that doesn't include research related to these deficiencies, esp when they are in conjunction with undermedicated thyroid sx can be considered a valid, complete scientific study. It points out, for me, that psychiatry has a long way to go re the importance of nutrituion, Vitamin and other supplement levels before they skip physical deficiencies and jump right to psychiatric causes for depression/ suicide ideation, etc. How many of us with long-standing mismanaged hypothyroidism have had psychiatric symptoms that were finally alleviated when we found a doc who correctly treated us and how many of us took psychiatric meds for mental sx associated with hypothyroidism without being helped by the psychiatric drugs? Boy is this subject a hot button for me! I also noticed the article was from a psychiatry journal. As someone in my A-fib forum said (I believe it was BobD if memory serves,) I'm paraphrasing: "When you go to a carpet salesman, expect to be sold a carpet." This research almost sounds like someone was given an assignment to find a correlation between lipid levels, thyroid problems, and suicide then backed into their study to support their original premise. Just my opinion!😧
Hi Helvella, I don't know why a lot of people are having adverse symptoms with hypothyroidism. I live in New Zealand which has import restrictions on prescription thyroid. I recently bought 9 bottles of Thyrovanz (New Jersey) 90 x 100mg bovine capsules. I was purchasing from Phararmaceutical Compounding (in NZ), through my doctors surgery, 100 capsules of 180mg porcine capsules. One hundred capsules cost NZ$128. The Thyrovanz, with delivery, cost about a third of the NZ price. But our new government is imposing 12.5% GST tax for imported goods from now on. At present I have 17 months supply of capsules.
People with hypothyroidism should look for a supply of natural thyroid capsules or tablets. As you know, we also need Tyrosine, Iodine, Iron, Selenium, Magnesium, and other macro and micro minerals, Vitamins, and Essential Fatty Acids.
A lot of people are subjecting themselves to needless stress, allowing the Autoimmune system to negate thyroid production.
Thanks for posting. Interesting even though aspects of it didn't seem to make sense. I suffer a lot with depression and have taken one overdose in my 20s. I've only relatively recently made the connection between depression and thyroid levels.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
More blood test results
DIO2 gene test advice regarding T4/T3 levels
Cholesterol and thyroid test results
