Low Zinc, Copper, and Manganese Intake is Associated with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in the Japanese Working Population: Findings from the Eating Habit and Well-Being Study.

Mieko Nakamura, Ayako Miura, Tomomi Nagahata, Yosuke Shibata, Eisaku Okada, Toshiyuki Ojima

Journal: Nutrients 2019;11(4):847

PMID: 30991676

Plain Language Summary

Diet, as well as other lifestyle factors (sleep, exercise etc) are thought to play a significant role in the occurrence of mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. This study focused on the dietary intake of particular minerals (zinc, copper and manganese) and their effects on depression and anxiety of 2089 Japanese participants, each in full time employment. Reasons for the occurrence of mental disorders are considered multi-factorial, but insufficient mineral intake (particularly zinc) is believed to be a causal factor in the prevalence of depression and anxiety. Results of this cross-sectional study showed that low intake of zinc, copper and manganese was associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. More specifically, the effect of both low zinc and low copper intake indicated a higher susceptibility towards depression with both low and high manganese status, suggesting low zinc and copper intake contributes to depression and anxiety symptoms regardless of manganese status. Researchers acknowledge that more investigation is needed.

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have suggested that there is an association between diet and mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the intake of six minerals and mental disorders in a cross-sectional study. We used data from the Eating Habit and Well-being study in Japanese workers. Kessler's six-item psychological distress scale was used to detect mental disorders, with a cut-off score of 12/13, and a validated food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate dietary mineral intake. A total of 2089 participants with no history of depression were included. The prevalence of mental disorders was 6.9%. The lowest quartiles of zinc, copper, and manganese intakes were associated with mental disorders, whereas the lowest quartiles of calcium, magnesium, and iron intake were not associated with mental disorders. Combination analysis of high (≥median) or low (

Address: Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan. [email protected].; Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Proportional Sciences, Tokoha University, Hamamatsu 431-2102, Japan. [email protected].; Department of Nutrition, School of Health and Nutrition, Tokaigakuen University, Nagoya 468-8514, Japan. [email protected].; Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan. [email protected].; Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan. [email protected].; Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan. [email protected].

DOI: 10.3390/nu11040847

Patient Centred Factor

Mediators: Mineral intake

Physical Environment

Psychosocial influences

Clinical Imbalances

Neurological Gastro-intestinal

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

Diet Psychological

Nutrition Evidence Keywords

Stress Micronutrients Depression Trace elements Minerals Anxiety Mental disorders

Bioactive Substances

Calcium Iron Magnesium Zinc Copper Manganese

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Copper, Cross-Sectional Studies, Deficiency Diseases, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Diet, Diet Surveys, Energy Intake, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Japan, Male, Manganese, Middle Aged, Nutritional Status, Odds Ratio, Prevalence, Zinc