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.

BACKGROUND

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) has been proposed as a biomarker of inflammation and cellular stress, both of which are implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between circulating GDF-15 levels and depression.

METHODS

Observational studies assessing GDF-15 levels in adults with depression were included. Eligible studies reported GDF-15 levels measured in blood and used standardized diagnostic criteria for depression. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A meta-analysis was performed on a subset of studies with available data.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies with a total of 55,985 participants were included, of whom 4997 had depression. Study populations included late-life, post-stroke, male-only, and general adult cohorts. Most studies (n = 12) found elevated GDF-15 levels in individuals with depression. Six studies were included in the meta-analysis (n = 5657), which revealed significantly higher GDF-15 levels in depressed individuals compared to controls (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.58; p = 0.0039). Heterogeneity was moderate to high (I2 = 68.7%) but reduced substantially upon exclusion of one study. Correlations between GDF-15 and depression severity were inconsistent across studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating GDF-15 levels are moderately but significantly elevated in individuals with depression, supporting its role as a potential inflammatory biomarker of depression. However, variability in measurement methods, study populations, and depression assessments limits generalizability. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are needed to clarify the clinical utility of GDF-15 in depression diagnosis and prognosis.