This study examined the association between depression symptoms and metabolic syndrome (MetS) or its components prospectively. It assessed the mediator role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Self-reported depression symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. MetS was defined as having at least three of the following five criteria: (1) waist circumference >102 centimeters (cm) in men or >88 cm in women; (2) triglycerides ≥ 50 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL); (3) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women; (4) blood pressure: systolic ≥ 30 and diastolic ≥85 mm of mercury or on antihypertensive medication; and (5) fasting glucose ≥110 mg/dL. The risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using multivariate Poisson regression models. A total of 419 White and 180 Black individuals with a mean age of 36 years were followed for 6.9 years. The findings demonstrated that hs-CRP mediated the influence of depression symptoms on central obesity in White young adults. The adjusted RR for central obesity was 1.08 with 95% CI of 0.88-1.32, and the value for hs-CRP was 1.12 with 95% CI of 1.02-1.23. Although depression did not influence MetS in this study cohort, the complete mediator role of hs-CRP was established for central obesity, a component of MetS in White young adults.
Keywords: Bogalusa heart study; central obesity; depression; high sensitivity C-reactive protein; intracellular adhesion molecule-1; metabolic syndrome.