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  • Original Article
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The relationship between depression and serum ferritin level

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 532–535 (2007)Cite this article

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.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Free Islamic University of Medical Sciences, the health deputy of Social Security Organization, Shahid Doctor Lavasani Hospital and all those who contributed to this study for their valuable help and support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Free Islamic University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    M Vahdat Shariatpanaahi

  2. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Industry, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Z Vahdat Shariatpanaahi

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    M Moshtaaghi & S H Shahbaazi

  4. Department of Statistic,

    A Abadi

  5. Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    A Abadi

Authors
  1. M Vahdat Shariatpanaahi
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  2. Z Vahdat Shariatpanaahi
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  3. M Moshtaaghi
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  4. S H Shahbaazi
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  5. A Abadi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Vahdat Shariatpanaahi.

Appendix

Appendix

Table A1

Table a1 BECK questionnaire
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Vahdat Shariatpanaahi, M., Vahdat Shariatpanaahi, Z., Moshtaaghi, M. et al. The relationship between depression and serum ferritin level. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 532–535 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602542

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602542

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