Dietary intake of minerals in relation to depressive symptoms in Japanese employees: The Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2015-05, Vol.31 (5), p.686-690
• Main Authors: Miki, Takako, M.P.H, Kochi, Takeshi, M.D, Eguchi, Masafumi, M.D, Kuwahara, Keisuke, Ph.D, Tsuruoka, Hiroko, R.N., P.H.N, Kurotani, Kayo, Ph.D, Ito, Rie, R.N., P.H.N, Akter, Shamima, Ph.D, Kashino, Ikuko, Ph.D, Pham, Ngoc Minh, M.D., Ph.D, Kabe, Isamu, M.D., Ph.D, Kawakami, Norito, M.D., Ph.D, Mizoue, Tetsuya, M.D., Ph.D, Nanri, Akiko, Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Calcium; Calcium, Dietary - administration & dosage; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - diet therapy; Depression - epidemiology; Diet; Diet Surveys - methods; Dietary supplements; Epidemiology; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Health Surveys - methods; Humans; Iron; Iron, Dietary - administration & dosage; Japan - epidemiology; Japan - ethnology; Japanese; Magnesium; Magnesium Compounds - administration & dosage; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Minerals; Nutritional Status; Older people; Prevalence; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Zinc; Zinc Compounds - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2014.11.002

Abstract Objective Although intake of minerals has been suggested to be beneficial against depression, epidemiologic data from free-living settings are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the cross-sectional associations between the intake of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc and the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese employees. Methods Participants were 1792 men and 214 women ages 19 to 69 y. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated, brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Participants with depressive symptoms were defined as those with a scale score of ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 27.8%. Intakes of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc were inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms. The multivariate adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of having depressive symptoms were 0.63 (0.44–0.91), 0.64 (0.47–0.88), 0.59 (0.40–0.87), and 0.63 (0.45–0.87) in the highest versus lowest tertiles of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc, respectively. Conclusion Results suggest that higher dietary intake of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc is associated with lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese employees.