It's still too early to say there's a definite link between cholesterol and the blues, and many cholesterol experts are skeptical of the studies done so far. But others say it's a connection that makes sense. All cells in the body need cholesterol building blocks to keep their structure. It's just not well-packed. A poorly packed cell, he explains, might not respond as well when it comes into contact with mood-regulating brain chemicals such as seratonin.
Cells work like a lock and key mechanism.
If the cell isn't structured well, it may not have a lock that allows the neurotransmitter to activate the cell. Even if a certain amount of cholesterol helps keep you psychologically healthy, it's not so much that you need to worry about endangering your heart. Suarez says the studies done so far have used a total cholesterol cut-off point of 160 micrograms per deciliter, as his study did. The increases in depression and anxiety didn't occur until cholesterol fell below 160, which is quite low. Only 10 to 15 percent of people in the United States have cholesterol that low, he says.