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.
Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
Cristina
C
Merete
Luis M
LM
Falcon
Katherine L
KL
Tucker
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