Fruit, Vegetable, and Antioxidant Intakes Are Lower in Older Adults with Depression

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2012.08.026

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Volume 112, Issue 12, December 2012, Pages 2022-2027

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.08.026 Get rights and content

Abstract

Studies have shown an association between depression and both antioxidant levels and oxidant stress, but generally have not included intakes of antioxidants and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. This study examined the cross-sectional associations between clinically diagnosed depression and intakes of antioxidants, fruits, and vegetables in a cohort of older adults. Antioxidant, fruit, and vegetable intakes were assessed in 278 elderly participants (144 with depression, 134 without depression) using a Block 1998 food frequency questionnaire that was administered between 1999 and 2007. All participants were aged 60 years or older. Vitamin C, lutein, and beta cryptoxanthin intakes were significantly lower among individuals with depression than in comparison participants (P<0.05). In addition, fruit and vegetable consumption, a primary determinant of antioxidant intake, was lower in individuals with depression. In multivariable models controlling for age, sex, education, vascular comorbidity score, body mass index, total dietary fat, and alcohol; vitamin C, beta cryptoxanthin, fruits, and vegetables remained significant. Antioxidants from dietary supplements were not associated with depression. Antioxidant, fruit, and vegetable intakes were lower in individuals with late-life depression than in comparison participants. These associations may partially explain the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease among older individuals with depression. In addition, these findings point to the importance of antioxidant food sources rather than dietary supplements.

Section snippets

Design

This case-control study occurred within a larger longitudinal clinical examination of depression in older adults (NeuroCognitive Outcomes of Depression in the Elderly).¹⁷ Nutrition-related data were collected between 1999 and 2007.

Sample

All participants who completed a nutrition questionnaire were included in the study, and were blinded to any focus on antioxidants, although they had been informed that relationships between diet and depression would be examined. This sample included patients who met

Results and Discussion

This sample of older adults included a total of 144 participants with depression and 134 comparison participants after the exclusion of 12 participants (n=9 for missing covariate data, n=3 for energy intakes <500 kcal). The comparison group was older (t₂₇₆= −2.39; P=0.0175), included more women (χ²₁=8.26; P=0.0040), had more years of education (t₂₇₆= −3.63; P=0.0003), a lower comorbidity score (t₂₇₆=5.03; P<0.0001), and lower BMI (t₂₇₆=4.21; P<0.0001) than the depression group (Table 1). In

Conclusions

Intakes of fruits, vegetables, and naturally occurring antioxidants, specifically vitamin C and beta cryptoxanthin, were found to be inversely associated with depression in this sample of elderly patients with depression and comparison participants, although no association was found with antioxidant supplements. These results may indicate that components of fruits and vegetables, including specific antioxidants, are important for mental health. Antioxidants from dietary supplements may not

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants of this research project for their dedication to furthering knowledge of late-life depression. The authors also thank Cortnee W. Pierce for help with subject recruitment, Robert Rybczynski for assistance with nutrition assessment, and Andrew Shiloh for help with data management.

M. E. Payne is an associate professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC.

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M. E. Payne is an associate professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC.

S. E. Steck is an associate professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia.

R. R. George is a research analyst, South Carolina Central Cancer Registry, Columbia; at the time of the study, she was a graduate student, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia.

D. C. Steffens is a professor and chairman, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut, Farmington; at the time of the study, he was a professor and vice chair of education, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.

: STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

: FUNDING/SUPPORT This project was funded by National Institutes of Health grants nos. MH60451, MH54846, MH70027, and HD043446, as well as an NARSAD (National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression [now the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation]) Young Investigator Award. This work was presented as part of the American Society for Nutrition program at Experimental Biology 2011 in Washington, DC.

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ResearchResearch and Professional BriefsFruit, Vegetable, and Antioxidant Intakes Are Lower in Older Adults with Depression

Abstract

Section snippets

Design

Sample

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

Am J Cardiol

J Nutr

Clin Biochem

J Affect Disord

J Am Diet Assoc

J Biomed Sci

J Nutr

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

Nutrition

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

Psychiatry Res

J Nutr

J Affect Disord

The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update

Depressive symptoms and the cost of health services in HMO patients aged 65 years and olderA 4-year prospective study

JAMA

Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of stroke: A meta-analysis of cohort studies

Neurology

Increased 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative damage to DNA, in major depression and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Neuro Endocrinol Lett

Research
Research and Professional Briefs
Fruit, Vegetable, and Antioxidant Intakes Are Lower in Older Adults with Depression