@article{ref1,
title="Sex differences in serum trace elements and minerals levels in unmedicated patients with major depressive episode: the role of suicidal ideation",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2023",
author="Huang, Dong and He, Jiali and Zhang, Rongxu and Zhong, Shuming and Lai, Shunkai and Jia, Yanbin",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the influence of gender on serum trace elements and minerals levels in depression, as well as the impact of suicidal ideation (SI) on these gender dimorphisms. <br><br>METHODS: A total of 260 unmedicated patients with a current major depressive episode were enrolled. The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation was utilized to evaluate SI. The serum levels of copper, zinc, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were quantified. <br><br>RESULTS: Within the non-SI (NSI) group, females exhibited higher levels of copper (p = 0.001) and phosphorus (p = 0.008), and lower levels of zinc (p = 0.022) and calcium (p = 0.008) compared to males. Conversely, no discernible gender disparities were observed in the SI group (all p > 0.05). Also, no group differences in these trace elements/minerals were observed between the SI and NSI groups (all p > 0.05). Notably, serum iron levels exhibited a significant group-by-sex interaction effect (p = 0.024). Further analysis revealed that iron levels were higher in the SI group than in the NSI group among females (p = 0.048), but lower in females than in males within the NSI group (p < 0.001). Moreover, a positive association between the fourth quantile of serum iron and SI was detected in females (odds ratio [OR] = 2.88, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-8.11). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Gender effects on serum trace element/mineral levels were different in depressed patients with and without SI. Female patients were susceptible to SI when serum iron was at the upper end of normal.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2023.12.024",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.12.024"
}