Abstract 9864: Depression Inhibits the Positive Effects of Exercise and Light-to-Moderate Alcohol Consumption on C-Reactive Protein Levels

Abstract

Introduction: Light to moderate alcohol consumption and exercise are associated with lower cardiovascular mortality and levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a predictor of cardiovascular risk. In contrast, depression is associated with higher cardiovascular risk and hsCRP. We tested the hypothesis that depression attenuates the positive effects of exercise and alcohol consumption on hsCRP.

Methods: Data were collected on 225 adult men and women (18-65 yrs, 45% women, 40% minorities). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered the same day blood samples were collected for hsCRP. BDI scores > 9 indicated depression. The following was used to classify alcohol consumption: never/former (< 1 drink in past 12-months), infrequently (1-3 drinks/month), occasionally (1-7 drinks/week), and regularly (2 drinks/day). Multivariate models were used to test the interaction effects on log-transformed CRP.

Results: Depression was noted in 20% of participants. Adjusting for a number of coronary risk factors, depression attenuated the effect of exercise on hsCRP (p = .043). Among those who exercised (n = 184), hsCRP was higher in depressed versus non-depressed subjects (p = .005). No gender differences were noted. Depression also attenuated the effect of alcohol consumption on hsCRP in men but not women (p = .006). Among women who abstained (n = 29), those who were depressed exhibited higher hsCRP compared to non-depressed women (p = .03). Depression did not affect hsCRP in women who drank. In non-depressed men (n = 102), drinkers exhibited lower hsCRP relative to non-drinkers (p < .05). In depressed men (n = 19), however, the positive effect of alcohol consumption was not observed. This was most notable among men who reported occasional and regular alcohol use (n= 55), where depressed men exhibited significantly higher hsCRP than non-depressed men (p = .005).

Conclusions: Independent of cardiovascular risk factors, current depression inhibits the positive effects of exercise on hsCRP. In men, but not women, depression also attenuates the effect of light-to-moderate alcohol intake on hsCRP. Combined, these data suggest the potential for depression to attenuate the health benefits of cardioprotective factors.