Association between cholesterol plasma levels and craving among heroin users.
OBJECTIVE
Lipids may play some roles in the central nervous system functions that are associated with drug addiction. To date, cholesterol is known to influence relapse of cocaine use. However, the relationship between cholesterol and heroin craving is unclear. This study examined the concurrent association between cholesterol and craving.


METHODS
The serum lipid levels of 70 heroin users who were undergoing or had undergone a methadone maintenance therapy were measured. Their craving and demographic data were assessed.


RESULTS
Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are negatively associated with craving before (r = -0.33, P < 0.01, and r = -0.36, P < 0.01, respectively) and after controlling for the effects of potential confounders (β = -0.38, P < 0.01, and β = -0.42, P < 0.01, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Cholesterol could be associated with the cognitive aspect of craving and may be a potential marker to predict risk of drug relapse.
Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Shih-Hsien
SH
Lin
Yen Kuang
YK
Yang
Sheng-Yu
SY
Lee
Pei Chun
PC
Hsieh
Po See
PS
Chen
Ru-Band
RB
Lu
Kao Chin
KC
Chen
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D009294:Narcotics; D003932:Heroin; D002784:Cholesterol; D008691:Methadone