IL6 and major depressive disorder: Another plausible mechanism linking handgrip strength with depression is low-grade inflammation, which is present in about a quarter of patients with depression, and over half of patients with this inflammatory condition have showed mildly elevated C-reactive protein levels.35 Interestingly, previous literature suggested that loss of skeletal muscle is associated with high levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein.36 Moreover, other lifestyle factors such as dietary habits may partly explain our results.