The Investigation Of Serum Level Of Selenium In Patients With Depression
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Abstract
Introduction: Depression is one of the most important problems of human in 21th century. Considering its high prevalence, economic and health costs caused by depression and its chronic and debilitating course, it is necessary to investigate its risk factors in order to choose better methods of treatment and prevention. Selenium deficiency is believed to be a risk factor for depression. The neuroprotective activities of selenium and selenium compounds are well known, at least through their antioxidant actions, so the aim of this study is to investigate serum selenium levels in patients with depression.
Materials and methods: This study was based on a case-control study. The target population was 30 patients suffering from depression and 30 healthy controls referred to Shahid Mofateh Clinic of Yasuj. Beck Depression Questionnaire was used to determine the level of depression of participants and serum samples of participants were used to determine selenium concentrations. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: The average age in 30 cases with depression was equal to 41±13.05 years. Most of the people suffering from depression were female which included 25 people among 30 people were the case group. There was no observed a statistically significant difference between the age, gender, and marital status variables in both case and control groups, but there was observed a statistically significant difference between the variables of education level, economic status and nutritional status of people. The average serum concentration of selenium in the case group was equal to 89.10 ± 32.21 μg/liter and this amount in the control group was equal to 95.90 ± 36.03 μg/liter, although the observed difference between the case group was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Although the role of selenium in depression has been discussed in some studies, but in this study no convincing relationship was found despite its lower serum concentration in depressed people.