title: Serum cholesterol levels and suicide: a meta-analysis.
abstract: A meta-analysis was performed on studies exploring the link between low levels of serum cholesterol and increased risk of suicide. Follow-up studies found that those with lower cholesterol levels do have a tiny but statistically significant increased risk of completing suicide. Individuals who have attempted suicide in the past have lower cholesterol levels, especially if they used violent methods for suicide. Cholesterol lowering studies, however, did not lead to a significant increase in completed suicide.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Program, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona 08240-0195, USA. lesterd@stockton.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lester
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002784:Cholesterol