Nightmares and serum cholesterol level: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether there is a relation between nightmares and serum lipid levels.

METHODS

Fifteen subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for the diagnosis of nightmare disorder and 15 healthy control subjects participated in the study. We used an enzymatic colorimetric method for cholesterol and triglyceride determination. We measured high-density lipoprotien (HDL) cholesterol using the direct HDL-cholesterol method. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated according to the Friedewald formula.

RESULTS

Patients with nightmare disorder had lower serum triglyceride, lower total cholesterol, and lower LDL levels than healthy control subjects.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that nightmares are associated with low serum lipid levels.