NUT CONSUMPTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG CHINESE ADULTS

BackgroundAffective disorders, especially depressive symptoms, bring such a burden to mortality and morbidity that they are associated with physical and psychological health and quality of life. Nuts, a foodstuff rich in multiple micronutrients, macronutrients, and other useful components, were considered to be a protector against depressive symptoms. Here, we conducted an analysis to examine the relationship between nut consumption and depressive symptoms. MethodsThe study performed a cross-sectional study to examine whether nut consumption is related to depressive symptoms among 13,626 inhabitants in Tianjin. Nut consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and depressive symptoms was assessed using the Chinese version of 20-item Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) with four cutoffs (40, 45, 48, and 50) to indicate elevated depressive symptoms. ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms was 38.7, 19.1, 11.4, and 7.3% for SDS 40, 45, 48, and 50, respectively. After adjustments for potential confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of having elevated depressive symptoms with SDS 40 by increasing frequency of nut consumption were 1.00 for