Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 May 11:12:672931.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.672931. eCollection 2021.

Galectin-3 Binding Protein, Depression, and Younger Age Were Independently Associated With Alexithymia in Adult Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Eva O Melin  1   2 , Ralph Svensson  3 , Jonatan Dereke  1 , Magnus Hillman  1
Affiliations

Galectin-3 Binding Protein, Depression, and Younger Age Were Independently Associated With Alexithymia in Adult Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Eva O Melin et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Aims: Alexithymia has been linked to cardiovascular disease. The aim was to explore whether the immuno-inflammatory variables galectin-3 binding protein (Gal3BP), soluble (s)CD163 and galectin-3 were independently associated with alexithymia, while controlling for known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as depression, anxiety, impaired glycemic control, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: Cross-sectional design. The participants were consecutively recruited from one diabetes out-patient clinic. Alexithymia, depression and anxiety were assessed by self-report instruments. Blood samples, anthropometrics, and blood pressure were collected, supplemented with data from electronic health records. High Gal3BP was defined as ≥3.3 μg/ml, high sCD163 as ≥0.6 μg/ml, high galectin-3 as ≥2.6 ng/ml, impaired glycemic control as HbA1c >70 mmol/mol (>8.6%) and abdominal obesity as waist circumference ≥ 1.02 m for men and ≥ 0.88 m for women. Results: Two hundred and ninety two patients participated (men 56%, aged 18-59 years, alexithymia prevalence 15%). Patients with alexithymia had higher prevalence of depression (34 vs. 6%, p < 0.001), anxiety (61 vs. 30%, p < 0.001), high Gal3BP levels (39 vs. 17%, p = 0.004), high HbA1c levels (46 vs. 24%, p = 0.006), and abdominal obesity (29 vs. 15%, p = 0.045). Depression [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.5, p < 0.001], high Gal3BP levels (AOR 2.4, p = 0.035), and age (AOR 0.96, p = 0.027) were independently associated with alexithymia. Abdominal obesity (AOR 4.0, p < 0.001), high Gal3BP levels (AOR 2.8, p = 0.002), and depression (AOR 2.9, p = 0.014) were associated with high HbA1c. Abdominal obesity and anxiety were associated [Crude odds ratio (COR) 2.4, p = 0.006]. Conclusions: T1D patients with alexithymia had higher prevalence of high Gal3BP levels, depression, impaired glycemic control, anxiety, and abdominal obesity, which are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Only high Gal3BP levels, depression, and younger age were independently associated with alexithymia in adult patients with T1D.

Keywords: alexithymia; depression; galectin-3; galectin-3 binding protein; glycemic control; obesity; sCD163; type 1 diabetes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Graphic illustration of the demonstrated significant associations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Taylor GJ. Alexithymia: concept, measurement, and implications for treatment. Am J Psychiatry. (1984) 141:725–32. 10.1176/ajp.141.6.725 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Guilbaud O, Corcos M, Hjalmarsson L, Loas G, Jeammet P. Is there a psychoneuroimmunological pathway between alexithymia and immunity? Immune and physiological correlates of alexithymia. Biomed Pharmacother. (2003) 57:292–5. 10.1016/S0753-3322(03)00085-4 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Reed RG, Raison CL. Stress and the immune system. In: Esser C, editor. Environmental Influences on the Immune System. Vienna: Springer Vienna. (2016). p. 97–126. 10.1007/978-3-7091-1890-0_5 - DOI
    1. Panayiotou G, Panteli M, Vlemincx E. Adaptive and maladaptive emotion processing and regulation, and the case of alexithymia. Cogn Emot. (2019) 35:488–99. 10.1080/02699931.2019.1671322 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Güleç MY, Altintaş M, Inanç L, Bezgin ÇH, Koca EK, Güleç H. Effects of childhood trauma on somatization in major depressive disorder: The role of alexithymia. J Affect Disord. (2013) 146:137–41. 10.1016/j.jad.2012.06.033 - DOI - PubMed