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Impact of micronutrient supplementation on depressive symptoms in Guatemalan women
Author(s) -
Phuong N.,
Grajeda R.,
Melgar P.,
Marcinkevage J.,
DiGirolamo A.,
Flores R.,
Martorell R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.lb45-a
Subject(s) - micronutrient , medicine , depression (economics) , depressive symptoms , ferritin , vitamin b12 , micronutrient deficiency , psychiatry , anxiety , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Micronutrient deficiencies and depression may be linked but few studies have assessed effects of supplementation in reproductive age women. This study examines the association between micronutrient indicators and depression and investigates the efficacy of weekly and daily combinations of micronutrient supplements on depressive symptoms. The sample was 459 child‐bearing age women in Guatemala. Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression Scale (CES‐D). Baseline data were used to assess the association between micronutrients and depressive symptoms. Women were then randomly assigned to receive either weekly (5000 or 2800μg) or daily (400 or 200 μg) folic acid (FA) plus iron, zinc and vitamin B12 for 12 weeks. The baseline mean CES‐D score was 16.9 ± 8.5 and prevalence of depression was 48.4%. RBC folate status was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Women in the lowest tertile were 2.4 times (95% CI: 1.1, 2.4) more likely to have depressive symptoms than those in the highest tertile of RBC folate. There were no associations with homocysteine, serum ferritin or hemoglobin. After intervention, the prevalence of depression decreased from 48.4 to 37.1% among all women. All four supplement combinations were similarly efficacious in improving depressive symptoms and folate metabolic status. Conclusion: Low folate status was associated with elevated depressive symptoms. Weekly FA plus other micronutrients may be as efficacious as daily supplementation in improving depressive symptoms.