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

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2014.11.002

Nutrition

Volume 31, Issue 5, May 2015, Pages 686-690

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2014.11.002 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
In this study, we investigated the association between dietary intake of minerals and depressive symptoms among Japanese employees.
•
Higher intakes of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc were each found to be associated with a lower prevalence of depressive status.
•
The associations remained statistically significant after adjustment for potential dietary and non-dietary confounders.

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.

Introduction

Depression is a common mental health problem in the general population and causes great loss to society with respect to reduction in work productivity and quality of life, as well as an increase in mortality [1]. An emerging body of evidence suggests that dietary factors are associated with the emergence of depressive symptoms; however, to our knowledge, relatively few studies have focused on these associations in free-living settings, especially in terms of mineral intake [2].

Several hypothesized mechanisms have been proposed to explain the associations between mineral intake and prevalence of depression. Minerals, including magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc, are essential to many brain coenzyme systems and might be responsible for the full activation of enzymes that synthesize mood-regulating neurotransmitters [3]. Previous population-based studies showed that dietary zinc intake was inversely associated with depressive symptoms [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]; however, findings for magnesium, calcium, and iron were inconsistent [4], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]. With regard to the association between magnesium intake and depressive symptoms, most [4], [9], [10] but not all [11] cross-sectional studies reported an inverse association, whereas one prospective study failed to confirm any association [12]. Regarding calcium intake, one study [11] found an inverse association with depressive symptoms, but two others [13], [14] showed no associations between the two. Regarding iron intake, one study [15] showed an inverse association with depressive symptoms, but another [13] found no significant association.

These studies [4], [5], [6], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], however, did not consider other potentially important nutrients for mood, such as folate, vitamin C, vitamins B₆ and B₁₂, and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [14], [16], [17], [18], and some were relatively small in size (population <500 participants) [5], [6], [10], [11], [14]. Furthermore, diet habit differs markedly between Eastern and Western populations, and some data showed a lower mineral intake (magnesium, calcium, and iron) in Japanese populations compared with those in the United Kingdom and the United States [19]. Epidemiologic evidence on mineral intake and depression is scarce in East Asia [11], [14], [15]; therefore, we conducted cross-sectional examination of the association of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc intakes with prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese employees.

Section snippets

Study design and participants

As part of the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study, the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study, a nutritional epidemiologic survey, was conducted at the time of the periodic health examination among workers of a manufacturing company and its affiliates in Chiba and Kanagawa Prefectures, Japan, in April 2012 and May 2013. Before the health checkup, 2800 workers were asked to participate in the survey and fill out two types of survey questionnaires (one specifically

Results

Participant characteristics are presented in Table 1. The prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D scale ≥16) was 27.8%. Corresponding value was 18.1% when a higher cutoff (CES-D scale ≥19) was used. Compared with participants without depressive symptoms, those with depressive symptoms were younger and more likely to be smokers, unmarried, night or rotating shift workers, and in a low-ranking job position; had higher physical activity levels at work and housework or while commuting to work but

Discussion

In this cross-sectional study among Japanese employees, we found that a higher dietary intake of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms, even after adjustment for potentially important confounding factors.

To date, four cross-sectional studies and one prospective study have explored the association between magnesium intake and depressive symptoms in a general population, and their findings have been generally consistent among

Conclusion

Higher intake of magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese employees. The inverse association in this cross-sectional observation requires confirmation in prospective study among populations with different background in terms of ethnics, sex, age, anthropometry, physical activity, and physiological and psychological conditions. Additionally, intervention trials are required to confirm the effect of mineral supplements on mood.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Fumiko Zaizen (Furukawa Electric Corporation) and Ayami Kume, Sachiko Nishihara, Yuho Mizoue, Saeko Takagiwa, and Yuriko Yagi (National Center for Global Health and Medicine) for their help in data collection.

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: This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A) (25702006) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant. T Mizoue and AN designed the research. TK, ME, K Kuwahara, HT, K. Kurotani, RI., SA, I Kashino, NMP, I Kabe, T Mizoue, and AN conducted research. T. Miki performed statistical analysis, wrote the manuscript, and had primary responsibility for final content. All authors were involved in revision of the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript. None of the authors had any conflicts of interest to declare. TK, ME, HT, RI, and I Kabe are health professionals in the Furukawa Electric Corporation.

View full text

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

Highlights

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Section snippets

Study design and participants

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Lancet

J Affect Disord

J Affect Disord

J Affect Disord

J Nutr

Prev Med

Am J Clin Nutr

Psychiatry Res

Psychiatry Res

Neuropharmacology

Life Sci

Brain Res Brain Res Rev

Pharmacol Biochem Behav

Psychiatry Res

Dietary intake and depressive symptoms: a systematic review of observational studies

Mol Nutr Food Res

Vitamin and mineral intakes in adults with mood disorders: comparisons to nutrition standards and associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables

J Am Coll Nutr

Correlation between dietary zinc intakes and its serum levels with depression scales in young female students

Biol Trace Elem Res

Dietary intake of zinc was inversely associated with depression

Biol Trace Elem Res

Association between magnesium intake and depression and anxiety in community-dwelling adults: the Hordaland Health Study

Aust N Z J Psychiatry

Dietary intake of magnesium may modulate depression

Biol Trace Elem Res

Low dietary calcium is associated with self-rated depression in middle-aged Korean women

Nutr Res Pract

Nutrition and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elderly persons in Japan

Acta Med Okayama

Nutrient intake and psychological health in an elderly Chinese population

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry

Is low folate a risk factor for depression? A meta-analysis and exploration of heterogeneity

J Epidemiol Community Health

Long chain omega-3 fatty acids intake, fish consumption and mental disorders in the SUN cohort study

Eur J Nutr

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