Open AccessAssociation between Caffeine Consumption and Depression in NHANES 2009-2010
Author(s) -
Janice M. Pogoda,
Galilea Patricio,
Archana J. McEligot
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
californian journal of health promotion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1545-8725
pISSN - 1545-8717
DOI - 10.32398/cjhp.v16i1.2120
Subject(s) - association (psychology) , depression (economics) , consumption (sociology) , caffeine , environmental health , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , economics , social science , sociology , psychotherapist , macroeconomics
Background and Purpose: Caffeine is ubiquitous in foods, supplements, and medications and has been hypothesized to be associated with several health-related outcomes, including mental health disorders such as anxiety. We explored a possible relationship between caffeine consumption and depression using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: Data from 1,342 adult NHANES participants were included. Statistical software for complex survey sample designs was used to perform two multivariable logistic regressions with a binary indicator of depression as the dependent variable: one using dietary caffeine consumption and one using the caffeine metabolite AAMU as the independent variable. Both analyses were adjusted for gender, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and use of anti-depressants. Results: We observed a descriptive, albeit non-significant (p = 0.12), pattern of increasing odds of depression with increasing levels of the AAMU caffeine metabolite. Conclusion: Our finding of a possible association between caffeine metabolite level and depression is compelling because it is independent of self-reported caffeine consumption. Prospective studies are warranted to further explore the temporal relationship.