Zinc and copper levels in blood between the depressive patients related with nutrition

Yurtseven K. Zinc and Copper Levels in Blood Between the Depressive Patients Related with Nutrition. Hacettepe University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Nutrition Sciences Program, Master's Thesis, Ankara, 2019. Depression is a widespread public health problem that negatively affects health. This study aims at investigating the possible relationship between the emergence of depression and possible dietary factors in depression by comparing the nutritional status, anthropometric measurements and serum zinc and copper levels of adults who suffer and do not suffer from depression. This study has been planned as a descriptive and fact-determination study and carried out on 30 individuals in total who have been (n = 15) and have not been (n = 15) diagnosed with depression among male individuals who applied to psychiatry polyclinic of Ankara Gülhane Military Medical Academy between September 2012 and March 2013. Depression status of the individuals has been determined by a physician through Beck Depression Scale/BDS and clinical examination. The frequency of food consumption, 24-hour food consumption, and some anthropometric measurements of individuals have been evaluated. A statistically significant, linear and weak correlation has been found between body mass index (BMI) and body weight and depression (p <0.05). Serum zinc levels have been found significantly low in patients with depression (p <0.05) while there has been no significant difference between their copper levels (p> 0.05). There has been no statistically significant difference between energy, macronutrients and vitamin-mineral intakes (p> 0.05) except for dietary zinc and fat percentage intake of the individuals in both groups (p <0.05). A linear correlation which is not statistically significant has been found between dietary zinc and copper intake and serum zinc copper levels (p> 0.05). As a result of this study, it has been indicated that there is a significant relationship between depression and nutrition. In the prevention and treatment of depression, it is of high importance to evaluate the relationship between obesity, eating behavior disorder and nutritional status through a multidisciplinary approach. Keywords: Nutrition, depression, zinc, copper