Association between sucrose and fiber intake and symptoms of depression in older people

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sucrose and fiber intake and symptoms of depression in older people.

Material and Methods: The research group consisted of 813 community-dwelling subjects (221 males and 592 females, median age 75). The symptoms of depression were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Participants were divided into two subgroups according to the GDS scale. Group A: 0–5 points – no symptoms of depression (612, M:167, W:445), and group B: 6–15 points – with symptoms of depression (201, M:54, W:147). The level of nutrient consumption was assessed with a 24 h Recall Questionnaire and the software ‘Dieta 5.0’.

Results: In males, consumption of sucrose (A: 30 g (18.1–53.3), B: 62.8 g (43.2–92.6)) (median (25%–75% quartile) and % of energy from sucrose (A: 7.3% (4.8–11.9), B: 13.5% (7.8–18.6)) were significantly higher in the group with symptoms of depression. Kilocalories per 1 g of fiber intake ratios were higher in depressive groups of both males (A: 89.1 kcal/g (68.1–109), B: 103.9 kcal/g (86.1–134.1)) and females (A: 78.6 kcal/g (62.1–99.9), B: 93 kcal/g (67.1–118.3)). Females without symptoms of depression consumed significantly more fiber (17.2 g (12.9–23.1)) than females with symptoms of depression (16.1 g (11.3–20)).

Conclusions: This analysis shows increased kilocalories per 1 g of fiber intake in patients with symptoms of depression. In males, symptoms of depression were connected with higher consumption of sucrose and higher % of energy intake from sucrose. In females, greater fiber consumption was related to less frequent symptoms of depression.

KEYWORDS:

• Depression
• older people
• sucrose
• dietary fiber

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by institutional fund: 503/6-077-01/503 61-001. Author Contributions: Conceptualization, Z.C., A.G. and T.K.; methodology, Z.C., A.G. and T.K.; validation, Z.C., A.G. and T.K.; formal analysis, Z.C., A.G. and T.K.; investigation, A.G., M.P., B.S. and T.K.; resources, T.K.; data curation, Z.C., A.G., M.P., B.S., T.K.; writing – original draft preparation, Z.C.; writing – review and editing, A.G, T.K.; supervision, T.K. All authors approved the final version of the article submitted for publication.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lodzi [grant number 503/6-077-01/503 61-001].

Notes on contributors

Zuzanna Chrzastek

Zuzanna Chrzastek: Researcher, Lecturer, PhD-student, Master of Nutritional Sciences Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Łódź. Zuzanna has clinical experience in the field of geriatrics at Medical University of Łódź. She performs studies connected with physical endurance, physical activity, nutrition and sarcopenia. She is involved in a European projects: Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) among Older People across Europe (SCOPE) and POSITIVE project. Her main scientific fields of interest include relationship between nutritional components and depression risk in older people. She also gives the lectures in general subjects of geriatric.

Agnieszka Guligowska

Agnieszka Guligowska: PhD of health sciences, dietitian, promoter of principles of healthy eating. A graduate of Warsaw University of Life Sciences and Medical University of Lodz. Currently, as a part of scientific projects, she conducts research on the impact of diet on the aging process of the human body at Geriatrics Clinic of Medical University of Lodz. She is a member of numerous, renown scientific societies. She has professionally been involved in diet therapy for over 20 years. When working with patients, she provides a personalized approach, combining counseling with effective education. She has many years of experience in educating adults. She lectured for Medical University of Lodz, Universities of Third Age, community centers, associations and foundations. She constantly deepens her knowledge and improves her workshop by participating in trainings and conferences.

Malgorzata Piglowska

Małgorzata Pigłowska Senior Researcher, Lecturer Master of Public Health Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Łódź Małgorzata has clinical experience in the field of geriatrics at Medical University of Łódź. She performs studies connected with physical performance, physical activity, nutrition and sarcopenia. She has been involved in four European projects: The Healthy Aging Research Centre (HARC project), Sunfrail Project, Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) among Older People across Europe (SCOPE project) and in maintaining and imPrOving the intrinSIc capaciTy Involving primary care and caregiVErs (POSITIVE project). She also gives the lectures in general subjects of geriatrics.

Bartlomiej Soltysik

Bartłomiej K. Sołtysik graduated medical faculty in 2012. Since 2014 he has been working as senior lecturer at the Geriatrics Clinic of the Medical University of Lodz. In 2019 he received the doctorate in medical sciences and finished the specialization in internal medicine. Since 2019 he implements a specialization course in geriatrics. His interest include healthy aging, functional disorders, cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress in elderly.

Tomasz Kostka

Tomasz Kostka received his M.D. degree and Ph.D. degree from the Medical University of Lodz in 1986 and 1992, respectively. Medical specialisation in internal medicine (1992), sports medicine (1997), geriatrics (2003) and medical rehabilitation (2010). 2000–2005 assistant professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, from 2005 professor and Head of Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Lodz. Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lodz (2008–2016), Vice Rector for Teaching 2016-. National Consultant in Geriatric Medicine 2015-. International Experience: Kantonsspital Basel (Switzerland), Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield (UK), l'Hôpital Edouard-Herriot, l'Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Desgenettes, Laboratoire de Physiologie de l’Exercice Université CLAUDE BERNARD, Service de Médecine Gériatrique, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Lyon (France), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Sweden), European Academy for Medicine of Ageing, Sion (Switzerland). Teaching activities include gerontology and geriatrics, internal medicine, sports medicine, preventive medicine, rehabilitation. Scientific activities include physiological and metabolic effects of physical activity in the elderly, muscle function, nutrition, antioxidant system, disability, frailty, rehabilitation and quality of life in older people. Author of more than 100 publications in peer review journals. Reviewer in many scientific journals. Member of the Editorial Board: „Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research”, „European Geriatric Medicine”, Journal of Health Policy, Insurance and Management”, „ Journal of Aging Science”, „ Frontiers in Geriatric Medicine”.Projects; Grant no. 2 P05D 070 30 from the Ministry of Education and Science and the State Committee for Scientific Research, Poland Polkard Senior Study grant from the Ministry of Health, Poland Grant no. NN404 0496 33 from the Ministry of Education and Science and the State Committee for Scientific Research, Poland Healthy Ageing Research Centre project (REGPOT-2012-2013-1, 7FP).Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) among Older People across Europe (SCOPE) H2020-PHC-2014 Reference Sites Network for Prevention and Care of Frailty and Chronic Conditions in community dwelling persons of EU Countries (SunFrail) HP-PJ-2014 Maintaining and imPrOving the intrinSlc capaciTy Involving primary care and caregiVErs (POSITIVE) EIT Health 01.2019-12.2021 Evidence-Based Gudance to Scale-up Integrated Care in Europe (VIGOUR) Public Health Programme 12.2018-12.2021.