Hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, and depressive symptoms: the British Whitehall II study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the recent suggestion that impaired fasting glucose may protect against depression, whereas a diagnosis of diabetes might then result in depression.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of 4,228 adults (mean age 60.7 years, 73.0% men) who underwent oral glucose tolerance testing and completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D).


RESULTS
After adjustment for demographic factors, health behaviors, and clinical measurements (BMI, waist circumference, lipid profile, and blood pressure), there was a U-shaped association between fasting glucose and depression (P(curve) = 0.001), with elevated CES-D at low and very high glucose levels. This finding was replicable with 2-h postload glucose (P = 0.11) and A1C (P = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
The U-shaped association between blood glucose and CES-D, with the lowest depression risk seen among those in the normoglycemic range of A1C, did not support the hypothesized protective effect of hyperglycemia.
Kivimaki
Mika
M
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. m.kivimaki@ucl.ac.uk
Tabak
Adam G
AG
Batty
G David
GD
Singh-Manoux
Archana
A
Jokela
Markus
M
Akbaraly
Tasnime N
TN
Witte
Daniel R
DR
Brunner
Eric J
EJ
Marmot
Michael G
MG
Lawlor
Debbie A
DA
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged