Assessment of Serum Leptin and Thyroid Hormone Levels among Depressed Women

Objective: There is a substantial amount of evidence suggesting that alteration in some hormones is associated with depression. The aim of the study was to assess the serum level of thyroid hormones and leptin in patients with depression. Subjects and Methods: In this case-control study, 63 patients with different degrees of depression and 69 healthy, age and sex matched control subjects were selected. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to classify the degree of depression into mild, moderate, and severe. The level of Leptin, thyrotropin (TSH), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) were estimated using commercially available kits and Free T4 index was calculated. Results: Leptin and T3 levels were significantly decreased and T4 rose in the depressed women as compared to the healthy controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, the serum level of leptin was significantly lower and T4 was significantly higher in sever depressed women compared to moderately or mildly depressed women (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that thyroid and leptin hormones malfunction in depressed women. Thus, inclusion of thyroid and leptin screening test in the case of deessed patients might be required in proper management schedules.