Table 1.

Sample characteristics

Characteristic	Men (n= 13)	Women (n= 10)
Age (years) (mean, SD)	52.3 (7.5)	50.5 (4.4)
Age range (years)	42–63	43–57
Current minor depression	7 (54)	2 (20)
Current major depression	6 (46)	8 (80)
History of major depression	9 (69)	5 (10)
BMI (mean, SD)	25.1 (3.1)	23.9 (2.0)
Weight (kg) (mean, SD)	79.7 (10.3)	68.8 (8.8)
CES-D score at baseline (mean, SD)	25.9 (8.1)	26.7 (9.2)

Unless otherwise indicated, data are expressed as number (percentage) of subjects. Reproductive status was characterized but was not a selection criterion. Women were grouped into premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal phases of reproductive life according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop criteria (Soules et al. 2001). All participants met criteria for a current major or minor depression, as determined by the administration of the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for DSM IV. All participants were in good health, as evidenced by normal results on physical examinations and laboratory tests (for blood cell counts, electrolytes, liver enzymes, kidney function, and thyroid function). With the exception of one participant, who received a proton-pump inhibitor as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux, all participants were medication free. In addition, all women had normal mammograms and gynecological examinations, and all male subjects had normal prostate-specific antigen levels

BMI body mass index (weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters), CES-D Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale