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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Folate intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese workers considering SES and job stress factors: J-HOPE study

Authors: Koichi Miyaki, Yixuan Song, Nay Chi Htun, Akizumi Tsutsumi, Hideki Hashimoto, Norito Kawakami, Masaya Takahashi, Akihito Shimazu, Akiomi Inoue, Sumiko Kurioka, Takuro Shimbo

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

Recently socioeconomic status (SES) and job stress index received more attention to affect mental health. Folate intake has been implicated to have negative association with depression. However, few studies were published for the evidence association together with the consideration of SES and job stress factors. The current study is a part of the Japanese study of Health, Occupation and Psychosocial factors related Equity (J-HOPE study) that focused on the association of social stratification and health and our objective was to clarify the association between folate intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese general workers.

Methods

Subjects were 2266 workers in a Japanese nationwide company. SES and job stress factors were assessed by self-administered questionnaire. Folate intake was estimated by a validated, brief, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were measured by Kessler’s K6 questionnaire. “Individuals with depressive symptoms” was defined as K6≧9 (in K6 score of 0–24 scoring system). Multiple logistic regression and linear regression model were used to evaluate the association between folate and depressive symptoms.

Results

Several SES factors (proportion of management positions, years of continuous employment, and annual household income) and folate intake were found to be significantly lower in the subjects with depressive symptom (SES factors: p < 0.001; folate intake: P = 0.001). There was an inverse, independent linear association between K6 score and folate intake after adjusting for age, sex, job stress scores (job strains, worksite supports), and SES factors (p = 0.010). The impact of folate intake on the prevalence of depressive symptom by a multiple logistic model was (ORs[95% CI]: 0.813 [0.664-0.994]; P =0.044).

Conclusions

Our cross-sectional study suggested an inverse, independent relation of energy-adjusted folate intake with depression score and prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese workers, together with the consideration of SES and job stress factors.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/12/33/prepub

Title: Folate intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese workers considering SES and job stress factors: J-HOPE study
Authors: Koichi Miyaki
Yixuan Song
Nay Chi Htun
Akizumi Tsutsumi
Hideki Hashimoto
Norito Kawakami
Masaya Takahashi
Akihito Shimazu
Akiomi Inoue
Sumiko Kurioka
Takuro Shimbo
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-33

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Folate intake and depressive symptoms in Japanese workers considering SES and job stress factors: J-HOPE study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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