Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 532–535. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602542; published online 25 October 2006
The relationship between depression and serum ferritin level
M Vahdat Shariatpanaahi1, Z Vahdat Shariatpanaahi2, M Moshtaaghi3, S H Shahbaazi3 and A Abadi4
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Free Islamic University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- 2Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Industry, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- 3Department of Internal Medicine, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- 4Department of Statistic; Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence: Dr Z Vahdat Shariatpanaahi, Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Industry, No. 40, Ghaffaari Alley, Valiasr Avenue, Arghavan, Farahzadi, Tehran 131415, Iran. E-mail: nutritiondata@yahoo.com
Received 19 December 2005; Revised 31 July 2006; Accepted 2 August 2006; Published online 25 October 2006.
Abstract
Objective:
This study looks at the association of depression and serum ferritin level.
Design:
Case–control study.
Setting:
University hospital.
Subjects:
Two hundred and five female medical students of Free University of Medical Sciences in Tehran were selected for the study (mean age; 24.5
1.6 years). Of these, 13 subjects were excluded and finally 192 subjects took part in the study.
Interventions:
A questionnaire was filled in by each participant for the diagnosis of depression to be made. Based on the Beck score, the students were grouped as depressed and healthy (67 depressed students and 125 healthy controls). The participants were evaluated in terms of hemoglobin (Hgb) level, serum ferritin, ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), CRP (C-reactive protein), folic acid, vitamin B12 and Hgb simultaneously.
Results:
The prevalence of depression in the study population was 34.7%. The mean ferritin level in students with depression was significantly lower than the healthy ones (P<0.001). By changing the status from normal ferritin level to low ferritin level, odds of depression was increased by 1.92 (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
The study implies a possible association between depression and decreased ferritin level before the occurrence of anemia.
Sponsorship:
Free University of Medical Sciences.
Keywords:
depression, Beck questionnaire, ferritin, iron deficiency, logistic regression
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