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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Selenium level and depressive symptoms in a rural elderly Chinese cohort

Authors: Sujuan Gao, Yinlong Jin, Frederick W Unverzagt, Chaoke Liang, Kathleen S Hall, Jingxiang Cao, Feng Ma, Jill R Murrell, Yibin Cheng, Ping Li, Jianchao Bian, Hugh C Hendrie

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

Selenium is considered a protective agent against free radicals through the maintenance of better enzyme activity. The few studies examining the relationship between selenium and depression have yielded inconsistent results and none of these studies considered the role of cognitive function in this context.

Methods

A cross-sectional evaluation of 1737 rural Chinese age 65 and over from two provinces in China was conducted. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Cognitive function was assessed using various cognitive instruments. Selenium measures were obtained from nail samples. Other information collected included demographic characteristics and medical history. Analysis of covariance models were used to identify factors associated with GDS score.

Results

Higher selenium levels were associated with lower GDS scores adjusting for demographic and medical conditions (p = 0.0321). However, the association between selenium and depressive symptoms was no longer significant when cognitive function score was adjusted in the model (p = 0.2143).

Conclusions

Higher selenium level was associated with lower depressive symptoms without adjusting for cognition in this cohort. However, after cognition was adjusted in the model the association between selenium and depressive symptoms was no longer significant, suggesting that selenium’s association with depressive symptoms may be primarily through its association with cognitive function.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/12/72/prepub

Title: Selenium level and depressive symptoms in a rural elderly Chinese cohort
Authors: Sujuan Gao
Yinlong Jin
Frederick W Unverzagt
Chaoke Liang
Kathleen S Hall
Jingxiang Cao
Feng Ma
Jill R Murrell
Yibin Cheng
Ping Li
Jianchao Bian
Hugh C Hendrie
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-12-72

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Selenium level and depressive symptoms in a rural elderly Chinese cohort

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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