Association between urinary trace elements levels and depressive symptoms among the older population

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

• Late-life depression is a significant public health concern in the elderly population.
• Trace element imbalances are increasingly implicated in depression, yet research primarily focuses on blood levels.
• This study investigates the association between urinary trace elements and depressive symptoms in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the correlation between urinary trace element levels and depressive symptoms in individuals aged 60 and above.
• To explore the potential of urinary trace elements as non-invasive biomarkers for depression.

Main Methods:

• A stratified, multi-stage random sampling method recruited 400 elderly participants from southern China.
• Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Items (PHQ-9).
• Urinary trace element concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, with logistic regression and Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) models employed for analysis.

Main Results:

• Urinary copper levels showed a positive correlation with depressive symptoms in 391 participants.
• Higher tertiles of urinary copper were associated with increased odds of depressive symptoms, particularly in men.
• A threshold of 8.22 μg/g creatinine for urinary copper indicated a progressive increase in depression risk above this level.

Conclusions:

• Urinary copper levels are associated with the development of depressive symptoms in older adults.
• Men appear more sensitive to the effects of copper exposure on depressive symptoms.
• Urinary copper presents a promising, non-invasive indicator for assessing depression risk related to environmental exposure.