Legume Consumption and Severe Depressed Mood, the Modifying Roles of Gender and Menopausal Status

Authors

Yanfeng Li, University of South CarolinaFollow
Qi Dai, Vanderbilt UniversityFollow
Stuart H. Tedders, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Cassandra Arroyo, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Jian Zhang, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2010

Publication Title

Public Health Nutrition

DOI

10.1017/S1368980009992059

ISSN

1475-2727

Abstract

Objective: Legumes have been recommended as staple foods in the anticipation of disease prevention. However, the scientific evidence of their benefits, particularly on mental well-being, remains preliminary. We longitudinally assessed the association between legume consumption and the risk of severe depressed mood (SDM) among a national cohort.

Design: The study included adults aged 25–74 years who were examined in 1971–1975 as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Legume consumption at baseline was obtained from a 3-month FFQ and categorized as infrequent (/week), moderate (1–2 times/week) and frequent (≥3 times/week). SDM was defined as Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score ≥22 or taking anti-depression medication after an average of 10•6 years of follow-up (from 8•0 to 12•5 years).

Results: Among women, the proportion of individuals with SDM was 17•75 %. For premenopausal women (n 1778), a significant linear trend of deleterious effect from legume consumption was observed (P for trend = 0•0148). The relative risks (RR) for infrequent, moderate and frequent consumptions were 1 (reference), 1•24 (95 % CI = 0•91, 1•70) and 1•75 (1•12, 2•75), respectively. However, moderate consumption showed a significant protective effect (RR = 0•52 (0•27, 1•00)) among women undergoing the menopausal transition (n 454). No association was obtained from either postmenopausal women (n 601) or men (n 2036).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that gender and menopausal status were effect modifiers of the association between legume consumption and SDM. Detrimental effects of frequent consumption of legumes may exist among premenopausal women; moderate consumption, however, may protect perimenopausal women against SDM.

Recommended Citation

Li, Yanfeng, Qi Dai, Stuart H. Tedders, Cassandra Arroyo, Jian Zhang. 2010. "Legume Consumption and Severe Depressed Mood, the Modifying Roles of Gender and Menopausal Status." Public Health Nutrition, 13 (8): 1198-1206. doi: 10.1017/S1368980009992059
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/epid-facpubs/20