Cross-sectional metabolic profiles of mental health in population-based cohorts of 11- to 12-year-olds and mid-life adults: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
journal contribution
posted on 2020-05-23, 00:00authored byK Lange, Kate LycettKate Lycett, S Ellul, R Saffery, F Mensah, J Carlin, Lisa GoldLisa Gold, B Edwards, P Azzopardi, M Sawyer, M Juonala, D Burgner, M Wake
Objective: Poorer mental health in adulthood is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and reduced life expectancy. However, little is known of the molecular pathways underpinning this relationship and how early in life adverse metabolite profiles relate to self-reported variation in mental health. We examined cross-sectional associations between mental health and serum metabolites indicative of cardiovascular health, in large Australian population-based cohorts at two stages of the life-course. Methods: We characterised cross-sectional serum nuclear magnetic resonance metabolite profiles of positively and negatively framed mental health in a large population-based sample of Australian 11- to 12-year-olds ( n = 1172; 51% girls) and mid-life adults (n = 1322; mean age 45 years; 87% women). We examined multiple standard self-report mental health scales, spanning psychosocial health, general well-being, life satisfaction, and health-related quality of life. Linear regression was used to investigate the cross-sectional association between mental health and each metabolite (n = 73) in children and adults separately, unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic position and body mass index. Results: Better child and adult mental health were associated with lower levels of the inflammatory marker glycoprotein acetyls, and a favourable, less atherogenic lipid/lipoprotein profile. Patterns of association in children were generally weaker than in adults. Associations were generally modest and partially attenuated when adjusted for body mass index. Conclusions: In general, metabolite profiles associated with better child and adult mental health closely aligned with those predictive of better cardiovascular health in adults. Our findings support previous evidence for the likely bidirectional relationship between mental health and cardiovascular disease risk, by extending this evidence base to the molecular level and in children.
History
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Volume
54
Article number
ARTN 0004867420924092
Pagination
928-937
Location
England
ISSN
0004-8674
eISSN
1440-1614
Language
English
Publication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
Copyright notice
2020, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists