Liu Lewei, Zhang Xi, Xue Jinyue, Zhao Lili, Tang Pei, Tian Yinghan, Fan Haojie, Hao Mingru, Zhao Xin, Geng Feng, Mo Daming, Xia Lei, Liu Huanzhong
Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Front Psychiatry. 2025 May 14;16:1583060. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1583060. eCollection 2025.
Appetite loss is common in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the psychosocial and biological mechanisms behind appetite loss remain unclear, particularly in the adolescent MDD population. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the links between appetite loss and clinical symptoms as well as inflammatory cytokines levels in this population.
Between January and December 2021, this study included 171 depressed adolescents. A range of scales were used to assess the patients' clinical symptoms, including depression severity, negative life events, insomnia, and alexithymia. Additionally, plasma inflammatory cytokines levels were measured, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).
The prevalence of appetite loss among adolescents with MDD was as high as 76.0%. Univariate analyses showed that patients with appetite loss had higher scores of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), interpersonal relationships, study pressure, punishment, sense of loss, the Insomnia Severity Index Scale (ISI) and difficulty identifying feelings, as well as higher levels of Log IL-6 (all < 0.05) Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that appetite loss was independently associated with HAMD score (OR = 1.158, 95% CI = 1.091-1.229, < 0.001), punishment score (OR = 1.117, 95% CI = 1.039-1.201, = 0.003), and Log IL-6 level (OR = 5.041, 95% CI = 1.137-22.344, = 0.033).
Adolescents with MDD face an elevated risk of appetite loss, which may correlate with clinical symptoms such as depression severity and negative life events, as well as elevated IL-6 level. Healthcare professionals should target these risk factors, including inflammation, to mitigate appetite loss.
食欲减退在重度抑郁症（MDD）中很常见。然而，食欲减退背后的心理社会和生物学机制仍不清楚，尤其是在青少年MDD人群中。因此，本研究旨在探讨该人群中食欲减退与临床症状以及炎症细胞因子水平之间的联系。
在2021年1月至12月期间，本研究纳入了171名抑郁青少年。使用了一系列量表来评估患者的临床症状，包括抑郁严重程度、负面生活事件、失眠和述情障碍。此外，还测量了血浆炎症细胞因子水平，包括白细胞介素（IL）-1β、IL-6、IL-10、IL-17A和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）。
MDD青少年中食欲减退的患病率高达76.0%。单因素分析显示，食欲减退的患者在汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）、人际关系、学习压力、惩罚、失落感、失眠严重程度指数量表（ISI）和情感识别困难方面得分更高，以及Log IL-6水平更高（均P<0.05）。此外，回归分析显示，食欲减退与HAMD评分（OR = 1.158，95%CI = 1.091-1.229，P<0.001）、惩罚评分（OR = 1.117，95%CI = 1.039-1.201，P = 0.003）和Log IL-6水平（OR = 5.041，95%CI = 1.137-22.344，P = 0.033）独立相关。
MDD青少年面临食欲减退的风险升高，这可能与抑郁严重程度和负面生活事件等临床症状以及IL-6水平升高相关。医疗保健专业人员应针对这些风险因素，包括炎症，以减轻食欲减退。
