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Determinants and prevalence of depression among dietary supplement users in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Many individuals globally utilize dietary supplements (DS), believing they can enhance health, prevent illnesses, and address vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies. Alharbi A. et al. (2024) aimed to assess the frequency of DS usage among the Saudi populace, identify related factors and explore its potential connection with depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2022, the authors distributed a questionnaire online to adult Saudis (aged 18 or above) residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The survey encompassed sections on socio-demographic details, health status, lifestyle, physical activity, and DS consumption, and utilized the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a reliable tool for diagnosing depression. 1173 participants were included in the study. The average age of participants was 26.3 ± 8.8 years, with approximately 14.7% reporting psychological anxiety and 8.4% experiencing psychological depression. Analysis of the results revealed a relatively high prevalence of DS usage (52.2%), with vitamin D being the most commonly consumed (43%). Moreover, 49.4% of participants reported improvement in depressive symptoms with DS usage. The authors conclude that their study highlights a high prevalence of DS usage in the Saudi population, particularly with vitamin D supplements. Furthermore, consuming multivitamins and minerals, notably iron, appears to correlate with alleviated depressive symptoms. However, additional research is warranted to elucidate the relationship between DS usage and depressive symptoms fully. [NPID: Dietary supplements, Saudi population, depressive symptoms, vitamin D, multivitamins, iron]
Year: 2024
