Leo Sher, M.D.

A research report entitled, “Evaluation of cholesterol as a biomarker for suicidality in a veteran sample” has been published in Research in Nursing & Health (1). The authors state that the objective of their study was to evaluate total cholesterol as a biological marker for suicidality in a sample of military veterans. The study was performed at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

The research group observed that veterans with total cholesterol levels below 168 mg/dl appeared to have a greater suicide risk than those with higher levels. The cholesterol levels of veterans reporting suicidal ideation or attempt were significantly lower than the cholesterol levels of veterans reporting neither ideation nor attempt. Veterans reporting suicidal ideation or attempt had experienced a significant reduction in cholesterol levels from an earlier visit in which they did not report suicidality. The authors suggest that the results of their study support a link between total cholesterol level and suicidality.

Reference

1. Reuter C, Caldwell B, Basehore H. Evaluation of cholesterol as a biomarker for suicidality in a veteran sample. Res Nurs Health. 2017 Apr 21. doi: 10.1002/nur.21794. [Epub ahead of print]