Depression in humans and animals is associated with significant metabolic changes including increased oxidative stress, inflammation and the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Such metabolic changes are commonly found together in sufferers of metabolic syndrome, a condition characterised by insulin resistance and weight gain, particularly in the form of abdominal obesity. Researchers have investigated the association between the presence of metabolic syndrome and depression in otherwise healthy humans and found that those with metabolic syndrome were about 4 times more likely to suffer from depression than those without metabolic syndrome. This research does not mean that metabolic syndrome is necessarily a cause of depression, but it tends to suggest that the presence of the metabolic perturbations characterising metabolic syndrome, particularly oxidative stress and inflammation, may contribute significantly to its development.
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