Comparison between Macro & Micro Nutrient Intake in Depressed Patients with Healthy People

Background: In recent years, the prevalence of depression has grown dramatically in the world. According to WHO reports, about 350 million people suffer from depression. In addition to the side effects of antidepressants, many patients are resistant to treatment with these drugs. One of the most important effective factors in the pathology of depression is the role of nutrition in controlling and preventing this disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the macronutrient and micronutrient status in depressed patients and compare them with healthy people.  Methods: In this case-control study, 110 depressed patients were matched with 220 healthy controls based on their age, gender, and area of residence. Patients were selected by simple sampling method. In the case group, unipolar major depressive disorder was diagnosed by a psychiatrist using the DSM-IV criteria. Food intakes of all participants were obtained using reliable semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires and analyzed with Nutritionist4 software. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference were calculated for all participants.  Results: The participants included 260 women and 71 men. The two groups had a statistically significant difference in terms of occupation, history of depression, childhood traumatic experiences, and family history of depression (P < 0.05). Regarding the macronutrients and micronutrients, a significant difference was observed between the case and control groups in terms of vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber intake, which were lower in depressed patients. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that intake of some micronutrients such as vitamins C, K, and dietary fiber may be associated with an increased risk of depression. Consumption of some micronutrients, mainly fruits and vegetables may be effective to control or prevent the risk of depression.