Poor muscle health and cardiometabolic risks associated with antidepressant treatment
Authors' conclusion
Adverse changes in body composition of antidepressant users are not captured by tracking the body weight or the BMI of the patients. These changes may lead to a worsened cardiometabolic risk profile.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants with MRI-derived adipose and muscle tissue measures
- Participants
- 40,174 participants
- Exposure
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) users vs matched non-users
- Outcome
- Fat distribution and muscle composition (MRI); risk of CVD and T2D
Methodological detailsUK Biobank, sex-, age- and BMI-matched controls, Cox regression
- UK Biobank
- Sex-, age- and BMI-matched controls
- Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- SSRI users had more visceral fat, smaller muscle volume and higher muscle fat infiltration vs matched controls
- Male and female TCA users showed lower muscle volume
- Female users had a larger BMI increase over time than male users; male users had an unhealthier body composition profile
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Male SSRI users had an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- Male and female TCA users had an increased risk of developing T2D
Original publication
Poor muscle health and cardiometabolic risks associated with antidepressant treatment. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 24 September 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →