The influence of depression, body mass index, and smoking on serum inhibin B levels in late reproductive-aged women.
BACKGROUND
Women experiencing depression have difficult psychosocial functioning, and recent data suggest an earlier onset of menopause. Understanding the biological mechanism for the impairment of reproductive function associated with depression is important.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to determine whether a lifetime history of depression is associated with reduced ovarian reserve as reflected in serum levels of the granulosa cell product, inhibin B.


METHODS
Residual serum samples from a subset of patients in the Harvard Study of Cycles and Moods were collected.


METHODS
Patients were recruited from seven Boston-area communities.


METHODS
Women with or without a history of major depression, based on structured clinical interviews for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, were enrolled. A subset of patients who had provided an early follicular phase blood specimen at study enrollment and two or more other samples over the first 18-month period of follow-up were included.


METHODS
There were no interventions.


METHODS
Serum inhibin B levels were measured.


RESULTS
Serum FSH levels were higher in women with a history of depression, whereas inhibin B levels did not differ between groups. Body mass index and age were significantly and inversely related to serum inhibin B levels. Smoking history was noted, for the first time, to have a significant negative association with inhibin B levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking has a direct negative effect on ovarian reserve, as suggested by decreased serum inhibin B levels. In contrast, effects of depression on the reproductive axis may occur at the level of the pituitary and/or hypothalamus rather than at the gonadal level, as suggested by increased serum FSH levels.
Lambert-Messerlian
G M
GM
Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Prenatal and Special Testing, Women and Infants Hospital, 70 Elm Street Suite 2, Providence, RI 02903, USA. gmesserl@wihri.org
Harlow
B L
BL
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D044469:Racial Groups; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*
C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins