REVIEW article
Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Mood Disorders
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1589663
Abnormalities of lipid metabolism in the progression and treatment of depression
Provisionally accepted
Xinchi Luan1,2
Xuezhe Wang2
Ying Shi2Xinyi Zhang1Yilin Wang1Miao Zhou1
Zhaoyi Wu1Zijiao Liu3
Xiaoxuan Li2
Lihua Zhang2Tianyi Shao2Ruolan Chen2
Chu Xianming2*
Hongyun Wei2*- 1Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China, Qingdao, China
- 2The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
- 3Shandong First Medical University, Tai'an, Shandong, China
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Depression represents a global health challenge with complex etiology and significant societal impact. Recent advancements reveal a critical role of lipid metabolism dysregulation in the pathogenesis and severity of depressive disorders. This review elucidates the impact of lipid imbalance on depression highlighting how dyslipidemia not only makes individuals prone to depression but also exacerbates the progression of depression (including the occurrence of some comorbidities of depression). On this basis, we have summarized that abnormal lipid metabolism may serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for depression. We discuss the perturbation of lipid homeostasis in depression, marked by altered triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein levels, and the potential of these lipids as biomarkers for diagnostic precision and therapeutic efficacy. Special emphasis is placed on the molecular mechanisms where lipids influence neuronal function and stress responses, thereby affecting mood and cognitive outcomes. Furthermore, we explore the comorbidity of depression with other systemic illnesses, suggesting a shared lipid-mediated metabolic pathway. Given the integral role of lipids in neural architecture and signaling, targeting lipid metabolism could offer novel therapeutic avenues, enhancing neuroplasticity and potentially mitigating depressive symptoms. Our synthesis aims to pave the way for future investigations into lipid-centric strategies to combat depression, advocating for a metabolic reorientation in mental health therapeutics.
Keywords: Depression, Lipid Metabolism, Dyslipidemia, biomarkers, therapeutic targets, Comorbidity
Received: 10 Mar 2025; Accepted: 06 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Luan, Wang, Shi, Zhang, Wang, Zhou, Wu, Liu, Li, Zhang, Shao, Chen, Xianming and Wei. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Chu Xianming, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
Hongyun Wei, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong Province, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.