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The association between antioxidant intake, dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project

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Abstract

Purpose

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the associations between antioxidant intake, dietary patterns and depressive symptoms among older men.

Method

794 men participated in a detailed diet history interview at the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project 3rd wave (considered baseline nutrition) and 781 men participated at the 4th wave (considered 3-year follow-up). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS ≥ 5). Dietary adequacy of antioxidant intake was assessed by comparing participants' median intake of vitamin A, E, C and zinc to the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia. Attainment of NRVs of antioxidant was categorised into a dichotomised variable 'poor' (meeting ≤ 2) or 'good' (meeting ≥ 3). Individual antioxidant nutrient was categorised into quartiles. The Australian and Mediterranean diet scores were assessed as predictor variables.

Results

The prevalence of GDS ≥ 5 was 12.8% at baseline nutrition and 13.2% of men developed GDS ≥ 5 at a 3-year follow-up. There was a significant cross-sectional association between poor antioxidant intake and GDS ≥ 5 in adjusted analyses [OR: 1.95 (95% CI 1.03, 3.70)]. Poor antioxidant intake at baseline nutrition remained prospectively associated with incident GDS ≥ 5 [OR: 2.46 (95% CI 1.24, 4.88)] in adjusted analyses. This association was also found for the lowest quartile of zinc [OR 2.72 (95% CI 1.37, 5.42)] and vitamin E intake [OR 2.18 (95% CI 1.05, 4.51)]. None of the other antioxidants and dietary patterns had a significant association with incident depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Inadequacy of antioxidant intake, particularly zinc and vitamin E, is associated with increased risk of clinically significant depressive symptoms in older men.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the staff working on the CHAMP and the participants in the project.

Funding

The CHAMP study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (301916) and the Ageing and Alzheimers Institute (GNT1123014). A.D. is funded by the University of Sydney and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life and Environmental Science, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Arpita Das, Rosilene V. Ribeiro & Vasant Hirani

  2. ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney and Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Robert G. Cumming, David G. Le Couteur, David J. Handelsman & Vasant Hirani

  3. Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia

    Robert G. Cumming, Vasi Naganathan, David G. Le Couteur, Louise M. Waite & Vasant Hirani

  4. ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2033, Australia

    Robert G. Cumming

  5. School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Robert G. Cumming

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  1. Arpita Das
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  2. Robert G. Cumming
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Contributions

RGC, FB and VN designed and developed the project. RVR collected the nutritional data and AD performed the analyses and wrote the manuscript. AD and VH had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. All authors had primary responsibility for final content. None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.

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Correspondence to Arpita Das.

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Das, A., Cumming, R.G., Naganathan, V. et al. The association between antioxidant intake, dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project. Eur J Nutr 60, 443–454 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02255-8

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