Controlling Cholesterol May Help Avoid Emotional Disorders Among Seniors

Written by Betty Doyle

University of Montpellier scientists demonstrate us how depression is related to cholestrerol levels and gender

Do you know the Institute of Medical and Health Research (INSERM) and College of Montpellier funded scientists suggested that regulating ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol levels may help avoid mood conditions among aging population?

In a recent issue of the academic journal Biological Psychiatry written in July 2010, leading researcher Dr. Marie-Laure Ancelin of INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) reported that gender specific regulation of cholesterol can aid reduce depression symptoms in the elderly.

French doctors followed a significant group of women and men aged 65 and older for 7 years.

They discovered that depressive disorder in women was linked with lower levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which puts them at higher risk for coronary disease, including heart stroke.

On the other hand, depressive disorder in men was related to low levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This association was strongest in men with a hereditary vulnerability to depression related to a serotonin transporter gene.

Therefore, proper regulation of HDL-C and LDL-C levels can help stop depressive disorder in the aging adults, the researchers concluded.

The analysis was published in the July 15 issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Major nutritional sources of cholesterol include cheese, egg yolks, beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp. Plant products such as flax seeds and peanuts have cholesterol-like compounds called phytosterols.

Total cholesterol is defined as the sum of HDL (High-density lipoprotein), LDL (Low-density lipoprotein), and VLDL (Very-low-density lipoprotein). Usually, only the total, HDL, and triglycerides are measured.

It is recommended to have cholesterol tested more frequently than five years if someone has total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL and up, or if a man over age 45 or a woman over age fifty has HDL (good) cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL, or occur other risk elements for coronary disease and stroke.

So…exactly what can you do to increase your HDL (good) and decrease your LDL (bad) levels?

1. Exercising can substantially raise HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL cholesterol.

2. Smoking has been shown to lower HDL while raising LDL cholesterol.

3. Highly processed, trans fats simultaneously raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol.

4. Monounsaturated fats such as those found in essential olive oil and avocados increase HDL and reduce LDL.

5. Fatty fish like salmon and sardines contain omega-3 fats that raise HDL and lower LDL.

6. Whole, intact cereals contain dietary fiber and niacin, both of which raise HDL and may lower LDL.

Now it’s all to you…

Betty Doyle gives advice for the depression pills effects blog. It’s a nonprofit website focused on her personal depression journey. The blog is focused on presenting energy and hope to any individual who is suffering from depressive disorder and promotes those people to find the energy to fight against the effects of depression. This way she would like to aid alleviate some of the stigma mental illness depression can cause and help the general public perception of mood difficulties.