Vitamin B6 is associated with depressive symptomatology in Massachusetts elders.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the cross-sectional relationship between dietary vitamin B6 and plasma pyridoxyl-5'-phosphate concentrations (PLP) with depressive symptomatology among a representative sample of 618 elderly Caribbean Hispanics, and a neighborhood based comparison group of 251 non-Hispanic white (NHW) older adults in Massachusetts.


METHODS
Depressive symptomatology was assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). 41% of Hispanics and 22.6% of NHWs had CES-D scores greater than 16, indicating depressive caseness. Dietary intake was calculated from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) designed for this population.


RESULTS
PLP was significantly associated with CES-D score and depressive caseness in the total sample and in non-supplement users. Deficient levels of plasma PLP (plasma PLP < 20 nmol/L) approximately doubled the likelihood of depressive caseness. Total intake (diet + supplement) of vitamin B(6) was not associated with these outcomes. However, dietary vitamin B(6) was significantly associated with CES-D score and depressive caseness.


CONCLUSIONS
Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the direction of causality between vitamin B6 and depressive symptoms.
Merete
Cristina
C
Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Falcon
Luis M
LM
Tucker
Katherine L
KL
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000097:blood*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People
D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D025101:Vitamin B 6