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Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Mood Disorders | Research

Association between dietary sugar intake and depression in US adults: a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018

Authors: Lu Zhang, Haiyang Sun, Zihui Liu, Jiguo Yang, Yuanxiang Liu

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Studies examining whether diet sugar intake increases the risk of depression have produced inconsistent results. Therefore, we investigated this relationship, using the US’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 18,439 adults (aged ≥ 20 years) from NHANES (2011–2018). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the nine-item version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Covariates, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty-income ratio, education, marital status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, alcohol intake, smoking status, physical activity, and dietary energy intake, were adjusted in multivariate logistic regression models. Subgroup and threshold saturation effect analyses were performed.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that a 100 g/day increase in dietary sugar intake correlated with a 28% higher prevalence of depression (odds ratio = 1.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.17–1.40, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Dietary sugar intake is positively associated with depression in US adults.
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Metadata
Title
Association between dietary sugar intake and depression in US adults: a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018
Authors
Lu Zhang
Haiyang Sun
Zihui Liu
Jiguo Yang
Yuanxiang Liu
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05531-7

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