The association between plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration and metabolic disturbances in women with depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between brain natriuretic peptides and depression was studied in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the data in people without CVD are limited. Metabolic disturbances can be associated with natriuretic peptides' levels. The study aimed to assess serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level in women with depressive symptoms and its relationship with metabolic disturbances. METHODS: The analysis included 347 women (20-60 years old) from Bialystok PLUS cohort study: 98 with depressive symptoms and 249 controls. Clinical examination, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and assessment of lipid, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and NT-proBNP concentrations in the blood were performed. The participants completed Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire. RESULTS: Metabolic syndrome was more frequent in the group of women with depressive symptoms compared to women without depressive symptoms. Women with depressive symptoms had lower NT-proBNP level than the control group - 45.88 (27.80-67.04) vs 56.49 (32.42-94.25) pg/mL, p = 0.027. Multiple linear regression analysis of all women showed that NT-proBNP level was reversely associated with the presence of depressive symptoms, waist circumference and heart rate and positively connected with age. In the group of women with depressive symptoms, we observed negative correlations between NT-proBNP level and insulin concentration at 60 min of OGTT, diastolic blood pressure and a positive correlation with SHBG. CONCLUSIONS: NT-proBNP level is decreased in women with depressive symptoms, which might be connected with metabolic disturbances in this group.

The relationship between subclinical depressive symptoms and metabolic parameters in women: a subanalysis of the Bialystok PLUS study.

INTRODUCTION: Clinically overt depression is associated with an increased risk for insulin resistance. Data regarding the impact of subclinical depressive symptoms on the risk of diabetes are limited. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to assess the relationship of subclinical depressive symptoms with body fat distribution and diabetes risk in women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The analysis included 250 women, 68 with subclinical depressive symptoms and 182 controls. A clinical examination, oral glucose tolerance test, and lipid and liver enzyme level assessments were performed. Body composition was estimated by dual­energy X­ray absorptiometry. The participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The women with subclinical depressive symptoms had higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass than the control group. The groups did not differ in the body mass index, waist circumference, total fat, fat­free, android, and gynoid fat mass. Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA­IR) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity were higher in the women with subclinical depressive symptoms than in the control group. In the women with subclinical depressive symptoms, we observed a positive correlation between the severity of somatic­vegetative symptoms reported in the BDI and VAT mass, HOMA­IR, and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity. Dysglycemia occurred more frequently in the women with subclinical depressive symptoms. In a subgroup analysis of postmenopausal women, the individuals with subclinical depressive symptoms had higher HOMA­IR, GGT, ALT, and triglyceride / high­density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical depressive symptoms in women might predispose to dysglycemia.