Shafaqna English- The apparent link between higher vitamin intake and lower rates of depression largely disappears after accounting for lifestyle, health, and socioeconomic factors, according to a new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, according to PsyPost.
Researchers analyzed data from 26,170 U.S. adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2014 to investigate whether vitamin intake independently influences depression risk.
Initial findings suggested that higher levels of vitamins C, D, and E were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. However, these associations were no longer statistically significant after researchers adjusted for factors including age, sex, education, income, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, physical health, and functional limitations.
The study also found no consistent independent relationship between vitamins A, B12, or an overall nutrition score and depression severity after accounting for these confounding factors.
The only exception was vitamin B6, where higher blood concentrations were associated with a slightly lower likelihood of experiencing moderately severe or severe depressive symptoms. However, the researchers emphasized that the effect was modest and does not demonstrate that vitamin B6 prevents or treats depression.
Instead, the findings suggest that broader social and health-related factors—including lower income, lower educational attainment, poorer physical health, sleep problems, smoking, and being unmarried—play a much larger role in depression risk and may also influence dietary habits.
The authors caution that the study was observational and did not account for antidepressant use, psychiatric medications, or dietary supplements. In addition, dietary intake was based on a single 24-hour recall, which may not accurately reflect participants’ usual eating habits.
The researchers conclude that vitamin intake alone is unlikely to have a strong independent effect on depression once lifestyle and socioeconomic differences are taken into account.
Source: PsyPost