Depression

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Hi folks:

There are three studies just out showing associations between

nutrients and incidence of depression:

1) The first appears to show that folate deficiency may be a cause

of depression:

" Dietary folate and the risk of depression in finnish middle-aged

men. A prospective follow-up study.

Tolmunen T, Hintikka J, Ruusunen A, Voutilainen S, Tanskanen A,

Valkonen VP, Viinamaki H, Kaplan GA, Salonen JT.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.

BACKGROUND: Several cross-sectional studies have focused on the low

blood folate levels of depressive patients. Nevertheless, no

prospective studies have been published on the association between

dietary folate and depression. METHODS: We studied the association

between dietary folate and cobalamin and receiving a discharge

diagnosis of depression in a prospective follow-up setting. Our

cohort was recruited between 1984 and 1989 and followed until the end

of 2000, and it consisted of 2,313 men aged between 42 and 60 years

from eastern Finland. RESULTS: The mean intake of folate in the whole

cohort was 256 microg/day (SD=76). Those below the median of energy-

adjusted folate intake had higher risk of getting discharge diagnosis

of depression (RR 3.04, 95% CI: 1.58, 5.86) during the follow-up

period than those who had a folate intake above the median. This

excess risk remained significant after adjustment for current

socioeconomic status, the baseline HPL depression score, the energy-

adjusted daily intake of fibre and vitamin C, and the total fat

intake. CONCLUSIONS: A low dietary intake of folate may be a risk

factor for severe depression. This also indicates that nutrition may

have a role in the prevention of depression.

PMID: 15479987 [PubMed - in process] "

2) The second shows that people who are depressed appear to have a

low blood level of vitamin B-6. Although a causal link is not

established:

" Vitamin B6 level is associated with symptoms of depression.

Hvas AM, Juul S, Bech P, Nexo E.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, AKH,

Aarhus, Denmark. am.hvas@...

BACKGROUND: A low level of vitamin B6 might theoretically cause

depression as vitamin B6 is a cofactor in the tryptophan-serotonin

pathway. In the present study, we examined the association between

depression and the phosphate derivative of vitamin B6 in plasma,

pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). METHODS: In 140 individuals, symptoms of

depression were evaluated by the Major Depression Inventory, and

biochemical markers of vitamin B deficiency were measured. RESULTS:

We found that 18 (13%) individuals were depressed. A low plasma level

of PLP was significantly associated with the depression score

(p=0.002). No significant association was found between depression

and plasma vitamin B12 (p=0.13), plasma methylmalonic acid (p=0.67),

erythrocyte folate (p=0.77), and plasma total homocysteine (p=0.16).

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that a low level of plasma PLP is

associated with symptoms of depression. Randomized trials are now

justified and needed in order to examine whether treatment with

vitamin B6 may improve symptoms of depression.

PMID: 15479988 [PubMed - in process] "

3) The third shows that people who are depressed tend to have lower

blood levels of alpha-tocopherol, but that IS UNRELATED to the intake

of that nutrient:

" Low plasma vitamin E levels in major depression: diet or disease?

Owen AJ, Batterham MJ, Probst YC, Grenyer BF, Tapsell LC.

1Smart Foods Centre, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences,

University of Wollongong, Australia.

OBJECTIVE:: Levels of vitamin E have been reported to be lower in

patients suffering major depression, but whether this is due to

inadequate dietary intake or the pathophysiology of depression is not

known, and was the subject of the present study. SETTING::

Wollongong, Australia. METHODS:: Plasma vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)

was measured in 49 adults with major depression, age (mean+/-s.d.):

47+/-12 y. In a subset (n=19) usual dietary intake of vitamin E was

determined by diet history. RESULTS:: Subjects had significantly

lower plasma alpha-tocopherol (4.71+/-0.13 μmol/mmol cholesterol)

than has previously been reported for healthy Australians, and plasma

alpha-tocopherol was inversely related to depression score (by Beck

Depression Inventory) (r=-0.367, P<0.009). Diet analysis indicated

that 89% of subjects met or exceeded the recommended intake for

vitamin E, and dietary intake was not related to plasma alpha-

tocopherol level in this subset. CONCLUSION:: These findings suggest

that plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol are lower in depression, but

this is not likely to be the result of inability to meet recommended

dietary intake. SPONSORSHIP:: This study was supported in part by the

Clover Corporation and the Australian Research Council.European

Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 27 October

2004; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602072.

PMID: 15508016 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] "