Mushroom intake and depression: A population-based study using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005-2016.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nMushrooms contain numerous bioactive compounds that may be associated with reduced anxiety including vitamin B12, nerve growth factor, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents. We hypothesized that mushroom consumption is associated with a lower risk of depression in American adults.\n\n\nMETHODS\nData from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2016 was used. Up to two days of 24\xa0h dietary recall were analyzed to assess mushroom intake frequency. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, score ≥\xa010). We used multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounding factors.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAmong 24,699 participants (mean (SE) age: 45.5 (0.3) years), the weighted prevalence of depression was 5.9%. Mushrooms were consumed by 5.2% of participants. Compared with the lowest tertile of mushroom intake, participants in the middle tertile (median intake\xa0=\xa04.9 g/d, number of cases\xa0=\xa016) had lower odds of depression (adjusted OR\xa0=\xa00.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16, 0.60) while those in the highest tertile did not differ (median intake\xa0=\xa019.6\xa0g/d, adjusted OR\xa0=\xa00.91; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.78, number of cases\xa0=\xa022) (P-trend\xa0=\xa00.42).\n\n\nLIMITATIONS\nCross-sectional data and lack of information on specific types of mushrooms consumed.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nMushroom consumers had a lower odd of depression. However, we did not observe a dose-response relationship.