ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0433-4000
Current Organisation
The University of Newcastle
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Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 08-01-2014
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 17-04-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAD.2014.05.016
Abstract: Several animal and human studies have shown that zinc plays a role in reducing depression, but there have been no longitudinal studies in both men and women on this topic. The aim of this study was to investigate dietary zinc, and the zinc to iron ratio, as predictors of incident depression in two large longitudinal studies of mid-age and older Australians. Data were self-reported, as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women׳s Health (women aged 50-61 years) and Hunter Community Study (men and women aged 55-85 years). Validated food frequency questionnaires were used to assess dietary intake. Energy-adjusted zinc was ranked using quintiles and predictors of incident depression were examined using multivariate logistic regression. Both studies showed an inverse association between dietary zinc intake and risk of depression, even after adjusting for potential confounders. Compared to those with the lowest zinc intake those with the highest zinc intake had significantly lower odds of developing depression with a reduction of about 30-50%. There was no association between the zinc to iron ratio and developing depression in either study. Dietary assessment was carried out only at baseline and although adjustments were made for all known potential confounders, residual confounding cannot be entirely excluded. Low dietary zinc intake is associated with a greater incidence of depression in both men and women, as shown in two prospective cohorts. Further studies into the precise role of zinc compared to other important nutrients from the diet are needed.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-01-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAD.2011.06.022
Abstract: Depression is a significant public health problem. Pre-clinical studies suggest a potential role of zinc in reducing or preventing depressive symptoms. Many epidemiological studies have examined the association of low zinc status with depression however, clinical trials on the effect of zinc supplementation in depression are limited. This review aimed to synthesise results from all published randomised controlled trials on the efficacy of zinc supplementation for reducing or preventing depressive symptoms. Six databases were searched over all years of records until March 2011. All randomised controlled trials with a comparison group, that examined zinc supplementation as the intervention and depressive symptoms as the primary outcome were included. Pairs of reviewers extracted key information of study characteristics and outcomes, and assessed the quality of each study. Four randomised controlled trials met inclusion criteria. In studies that examined the effects of zinc supplementation as an adjunct to antidepressants drug treatment, zinc significantly lowered depressive symptom scores of depressed patients. There is less clear evidence on the effectiveness of zinc supplementation alone on depressive symptoms of non-depressed healthy subjects. The overall study quality was rated 'moderate'. There are limited trials examining the effects of zinc supplementation on depressive symptoms. An overall pooled estimate of effect for all included studies could not be calculated and evidence was difficult to summarise because of substantial heterogeneity. Evidence suggests potential benefits of zinc supplementation as a stand-alone intervention or as an adjunct to conventional antidepressant drug therapy for depression. However, there are methodological limitations in existing studies and so further well-designed, adequately powered research is required.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-01-2018
DOI: 10.3390/NU10010038
Abstract: Several animal and human studies have shown that zinc is associated with cellular damage and cardiac dysfunction. This study aims to investigate dietary zinc and the zinc-iron ratio, as predictors of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a large longitudinal study of mid-age Australian women (aged 50–61 years). Data was self-reported and validated food frequency questionnaires were used to assess dietary intake. Energy-adjusted zinc was ranked using quintiles and predictors of incident CVD were examined using stepwise logistic regression. After six years of follow-up, 320 incident CVD cases were established. A positive association between dietary zinc intake, zinc-iron ratio and risk of CVD was observed even after adjusting for potential dietary and non-dietary confounders. Compared to those with the lowest quintile of zinc, those in the highest quintile (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.67, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.08–2.62) and zinc-iron ratio (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.05–2.81) had almost twice the odds of developing CVD (p trend = 0.007). This study shows that high dietary zinc intake and zinc-iron ratio is associated with a greater incidence of CVD in women. Further studies are required detailing the source of zinc and iron in diet and their precise roles when compared to other essential nutrients.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 04-10-2015
Abstract: The aim of this research is to estimate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness in an older population and associations with sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors using a cross-sectional, population-based study. Participants were men (1560) and women (1759), aged 55 to 85 years, enrolled in the Hunter Community Study, a longitudinal study of aging. Measurements were self-reported questionnaires, biochemical measures, and clinical measures. Of the 3319 participants, 3053 participants completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire. The prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness was 15.3% overall and this was higher in males. In adjusted multivariate analysis, gender, working full time, body mass index, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression scale score, and Kessler psychological distress score were associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. Given the high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness observed in this study, further investigation and/or interventions to reduce adverse health outcomes, especially in males is warranted.
No related grants have been discovered for Khanrin Vashum-Johnston.