Circulating Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) levels in depressive disorders - A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between GDF-15 and depression in adult populations.

J Affect DisordApr 26, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry

Aidan Jones-Murphy, Ena Liew, Anuradha Baminiwatta et al.

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In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between circulating Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) levels and depression in adult populations. Thirteen studies involving 55,985 participants were analyzed, revealing that GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in depressed individuals compared to controls, with a standardized mean difference of 0.39 (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.58; p = 0.0039).

Key findings

  • GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in depressed individuals compared to controls (SMD = 0.39, p = 0.0039).
  • Twelve out of thirteen studies reported elevated GDF-15 levels in individuals with depression.
  • The meta-analysis included six studies with a total of 5657 participants.
  • Heterogeneity among studies was moderate to high (I² = 68.7%).

Why it matters

Understanding the association between GDF-15 and depression may help identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, enhancing the management of depressive disorders.

What to keep in mind

Variability in measurement methods, study populations, and depression assessments limits the generalizability of the findings.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42049068

Published in J Affect Disord. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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