This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Timonen, M. Articles by Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Timonen, M. Articles by Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi, S. Related Collections Depression Diabetes

Insulin Resistance and Depressive Symptoms in Young Adult Males: Findings From Finnish Military Conscripts

From the Department of Public Health Science and General Practice (M.T., I.S., J.J., M.L., S.K.-K.), University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Unit of General Practice (J.J., M.L., S.K.-K.), Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Sports Medicine (P.H.), Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland; National Public Health Institute (P.K.), Oulu, Finland; Faculty of Engineering and Sciences (V.B.M.-R.), Jacobs University (formerly International University Bremen), Bremen, Germany; Department of Physiology (V.B.M.-R.), University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Finnish Defence Forces (A.P.), Eastern Command Headquarters, Mikkeli, Finland; Oulu Health Center (S.K.-K.), Oulu, Finland.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Markku Timonen, Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland. E-mail: markku.timonen{at}oulu.fi

Objective: To investigate whether the association between insulin resistance (IR) and depressive symptoms is present already in young adult males. The association between IR and depression has been poorly studied, although the existence of a connection of Type II diabetes with depression is well established. We previously demonstrated at epidemiological level in two groups of men aged 31 years and 61 to 63 years that IR is linked with depressive symptoms.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, involving 1054 healthy Finnish male military conscripts of about 19 years of age, IR was defined through homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). The severity of the depressive symptoms was evaluated through a Finnish modification of the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (R-BDI). Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were said to be present, if the R-BDI score was 8, and mild depressive symptoms were present if the R-BDI score was 5 to 7.

Results: After adjusting for confounders, moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms increased the risk for IR, as defined by the highest decile of the HOMA-IR, up to 2.8-fold (odds ratio = 2.8; 1.2–6.5). Mild depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with IR.

Conclusions: In young adult males, co-occurring strictly defined IR seems to be positively associated with current moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms.

Key Words: depressive symptoms • homeostasis model assessment • insulin resistance • males

Abbreviations: cAMP = cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CI = confidence interval; HOMA = homeostasis model assessment; HPA = hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal; GR = glucocorticoid receptor; IR = insulin resistance; OR = odds ratio; PKA = protein kinase A; R-BDI = Finnish modification of the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory.