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

Using the data from the Eating Habit and Well-being study in Japanese workers, Nakamura et al. (2019) analyzed the relationship between the intake of six minerals with mental disorders. Among the 2089 participants of the study, there was no history of depression but 6.9% developed mental disorders (detected by Kessler’s six-item psychological distress scale using a cut-off score of 12/13). The subjects’ dietary mineral intakes were estimated with the validated food frequency questionnaires, revealing the association between mental disorders with the lowest quartiles of zinc, copper, and manganese consumption. Whereas, the lowest quartiles of calcium, magnesium, and iron intake did not correlate with mental disorders. Also, combination analysis of high (≥median) or low (<median) intake of minerals showed that low consumption of both zinc and copper, even with low or high manganese intake (odds ratio (OR) = 2.71, OR = 3.06, respectively) showed a higher OR than that of high zinc, high copper, and high manganese intake. Supplementary studies are warranted to explore dietary minerals’ effect on mental health. [NPID: micronutrients, nutritional supplements, Japan, minerals, depression, psychological distress, zinc, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron]

Year: 2019

Reference: Nakamura, M., Miura, A., Nagahata, T., Shibata, Y., Okada, E., & Ojima, T. (2019). 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. Nutrients, 11(4), 847. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040847