Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore associations between fasting whole blood serotonin levels and anthropometric measures in healthy male and female volunteers (N=68) aged between 20 and 66 years. A fasting (20 ml) venous blood sample for whole blood serotonin was collected, after which body mass index and waist circumference (WC) were measured by DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan. Data were analysed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v 17.0) software. Pearson (partial) correlations showed significant associations between whole blood serotonin and BMI (r=−0.284, p=0.021) and waist circumference (r=−0.325, p=0.008). The correlational nature of these analyses do not enable conclusions to be drawn as to cause and effect but suggest an interplay between obesity and lower whole blood serotonin levels.