Serum and urinary essential trace elements in association with major depressive disorders: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Nutrition
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The exact causes and mechanisms of major depressive disorder (MDD) are not fully understood.
• Essential trace elements (ETEs) are increasingly recognized for their crucial roles in physiological processes, including brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum and urinary levels of essential trace elements (ETEs) and major depressive disorder (MDD).
• To explore the potential protective or pathogenic roles of ETEs in MDD.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed serum and urine samples from 72 MDD patients and 75 healthy controls using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
• Measured levels of iodine (I), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), and molybdenum (Mo).

Main Results:

• MDD patients had significantly lower serum levels of I, Se, Cu, and Mo compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05).
• MDD patients exhibited significantly higher urinary levels of I and Zn compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05).
• Lower serum iodine concentration was negatively associated with MDD, while higher urinary iodine concentration was positively associated with MDD.

Conclusions:

• Lower serum levels of I, Se, Cu, and Mo may be protective against MDD.
• Elevated urinary levels of I and Zn might be associated with MDD development.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the metabolic pathways and roles of these ETEs in MDD.