The possible association of dietary fiber intake with the incidence of depressive symptoms in the Korean population

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study investigates the effect of dietary fiber on the prevention of depressive symptoms.

Methods

In a cohort of 88,826 Korean adults (57,284 men and 31,542 women), we longitudinally evaluated the risk of depressive symptoms according to quartiles of dietary fiber intake for 5.8 years of follow-up. A food frequency questionnaire was used in evaluating dietary fiber intake. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale, in which CES-D ≥ 16 was defined as depressive symptoms. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for depressive symptoms (adjusted HR [95% CI]). Subgroup analysis was performed for gender and BMI (≥25 or <25).

Result

In men, the risk of depressive symptoms significantly decreased with the increase of dietary fiber (quartile 1: reference, quartile 2: 0.93 [0.87–0.99], quartile 3: 0.91 [0.85–0.98] and quartile 4: 0.84 [0.77–0.92]). This association was more prominently observed in men with BMI ≥ 25 (quartile 1: reference, quartile 2: 0.95 [0.86–1.06], quartile 3: 0.88 [0.79–0.99] and quartile 4: 0.84 [0.73–0.97]). Women did not show a significant association between quartile groups of dietary fiber intake and the risk of depressive symptoms across subgroup analysis for BMI.

Conclusion

High intake of dietary fiber is potentially effective in reducing depressive symptoms in Korean men. The protective effect of dietary fiber on depressive symptoms may vary by gender and obesity.

KEYWORDS:

• Dietary fiber
• depressive symptom
• obesity
• gender
• depression
• cohort study
• dietary pattern
• FFQ

Acknowledgements

This study was based on medical data collected and arranged by the Kangbuk Samsung Cohort Study (KSCS). Therefore, this study could be done under the labor of all staff working in KSCS and Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. Additionally, we especially appreciate Prof. Yoosoo Chang in the Kangbuk Samsung Cohort team and Prof. Mi Kyung Kim in the Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the Kangbuk Samsung Cohort Study. Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study. Data are available with the permission of the Kangbuk Samsung Cohort Study team.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Sung Keun Park

Sung Keun Park, a Clinical Professor at Kanbuk Samsung Hospital.

Chang-Mo Oh

Chang-Mo Oh, Associate Professor at Kyung Hee University.

Jae-Hong Ryoo

Jae-Hong Ryoo, Professor at Kyung Hee University.

Ju Young Jung

Ju Young Jung, a Clinical Professor and epidemiologist at Kanbuk Samsung Hospital.