Wium–Andersen MK, et al. – The intention of this research was to test the hypothesis that high levels of the antioxidant uric acid are correlated with lower risk of hospitalization for depression and use of prescription antidepressant medication. The results of this study demonstrated that high plasma levels of uric acid were related to the low risk of depression hospitalization and antidepressant medication use.

Methods

• Plasma levels of the antioxidant uric acid was examined in 96989 people from two independent cohort studies.
• Multivariable adjusted for age, gender, alcohol, smoking, income, body mass index, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, triglycerides, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and intake of meat and vegetables were the Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models.
• Results were performed independently in each examination and combined in a meta-analysis.

Results

• The results of this investigation showed that high uric acid was related to lower risk of hospitalization as in-patient or out-patient with depression and antidepressant medication use in both studies.
• It was noted that a doubling in uric acid was related to an effect estimate of 0.57 (95% CI 0.49–0.65) and 0.77 (0.73–0.81) for hospitalization with depression and antidepressant medication use.
• The affiliation was consistent across strata of all covariates.
• Outcomes were attenuated in Cox regression analyses with less statistical power.