Quantification of the Effect of Vitamin E Intake on Depressive Symptoms in United States Adults Using Restricted Cubic Splines
Alexander A. Huang, Samuel Y. Huang
Abstract
Depression is a rapidly increasing public health concern, affecting >4% of the global population. Identification of new nutritional recommendations is needed to help combat this increasing public health concern. The study aimed to examine the association between vitamin E intake and depressive symptoms. A retrospective study was conducted by using a nationally representative, modern cohort (NHANES 2017–2020). Depressive symptoms were assessed through the validated 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). All adult patients ([≥18 y old], 8091 total adults) who answered the PHQ-9 and daily nutritional values questionnaires were selected for this study. Per literature, patients with PHQ-9 scores ≥10 were considered to have depressive symptoms. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to investigate the effect of vitamin E on depressive symptoms as ascertained by PHQ-9. The acquisition and analysis of the data within this study was approved by the NCHS ethics review board. After controlling for potential confounders (age, race, sex, and income), we observed that increased vitamin E (up until 15 mg/d) was associated with decreased rates of depressive symptoms, with each 5 mg increase in vitamin E associated with 13% decreased odds of symptoms of depression (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.97; P < 0.01). Additional intake above 15 mg/d, the daily recommended amount by the Food and Nutrition Board, did not change the odds of depression (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.16; P = 0.44). Increased vitamin E intake (up to 15 mg/d) is associated with decreased depressive symptoms. Further prospective studies are required to ascertain whether increased vitamin E can protect against depressive symptoms and the specific therapeutic dose–response relationship.