title: Nutritional status in patients with major depressive disorders: a pilot study in tabriz, iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status in Iranian major depres¬sive disorder patients. We also determined the relationship between nutrients intake with depres¬sion severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy major depressive patients were selected randomly from outpatient depressive subjects, referred to Razi Psychiatry Hospital in Tabriz, Iran in 2007. Dietary intakes were rec¬orded and compared with dietary reference intakes (DRIs). Definition of the disease and its se¬verity were according to DSM-IV-TR and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, respectively. Nu¬tritionist III program, Chi-square, correlation and t-test were used for data analyses. Demo¬graphic, clinical and laboratory data were analyzed using SPSS software for windows (ver¬sion13.0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to dietary analysis, 11.4% and 55% of patients had dietary protein and energy deficiency, respectively. 97.1% and 95.7% of patients had less folate and B12 intakes than recom¬mended dietary allowances. The mean (Mean ± SD) for plasma folate and B12 was 5.18±6.11 ng/ml and 389.05±346.9 pg/ml, respectively. Low plasma folate and B12 was observed in 51.4% and 50.0 % of patients, respectively. There was no significant relationship between blood folate and B12 levels with depression severity. Similarly, nutrients intake had no effect on depression se¬verity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low plasma concentrations and low dietary intakes of folate and B12 are common among Tabrizian depressive patients. It seems that nutritional intervention for increasing folate and vitamin B12 intake must be considered as health promotive and preventative program for patients suffering from depression disorders.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Center, Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Diet Therapy, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pourghassem Gargari
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Center, Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Diet Therapy, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saboktakin
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Center, Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Diet Therapy, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Soltanali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahboob
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nosratollah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pourafkari
keywords: Folate; Iran; Major depression; Nutritional status; Vitamin B12