A Web-based Survey for the Association Between Food Allergy and Depression/psychological Distress in 11, 876 Japanese (P18-019-19). (13th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hidese, Shinsuke; Nogawa, Shun; Saito, Kenji; Kunugi, Hiroshi
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 3(2019)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2019-06-13
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzz039.P18-019-19
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine whether food allergy (FA) is associated with depression/psychological distress in a large Japanese sample. Methods: This web-based survey was conducted on a platform of "Yahoo! JAPAN -HealthData Lab" and the Genequest Inc. (Tokyo, Japan). Participants were 1000 individuals with self-reported history of depression (mean age: 41.4 years, 501 men and 499 women) and the remaining 10, 876 controls (mean age: 45.1 years, 5691 men and 5185 women). Six-item Kessler scale (K6) test cut-off score ≥13 was used to estimate severe psychological distress. We gained self-reported information on FA and 27 specific food allergens. Results: The proportion of individuals with FA, 2 or more, 3 or more, and 4 or more allergens was higher in the depression group compared to the control group (odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 1.75, 2.02, and 2.27, respectively; P < 0.001). Allergen analyses revealed that allergies for shrimp, egg, mackerel, crab, kiwi fruit, milk, banana, and squid were more common in the depression group compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). Individuals who had severe psychological distress was more common in the FA group than in the non-FA group, in the total participants (OR = 1.32, 1.62, 2.04 and 2.51; 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more allergens, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions: We suggest that FA is likely to be a risk factor for depression and severe psychological distress, which is dependent on the number of food allergens. Funding Sources: This work was supported by an Intramural Research Grant for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders of National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry.