The results of a recent study, published in the July/August issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, indicate that in people with anorexia nervosa, low cholesterol levels are associated with suicidal tendencies.
In the study group, those with suicidal intentions, impulsive self-harm and a history of suicidal thoughts had significantly lower cholesterol levels than those without suicidal tendencies (4.1 mmol/L vs 4.8 mmol/L).

The study was conducted on a group of 74 people with mental anorexia nervosa. Blood samples were taken after a period of non-eating, before the patients started eating again.