(P30-027-25) Antidepressant Treatment and Its Associations With Iron Status Biomarkers and CRP in Adults of East Asian and Northern European Ancestry

Objectives: Iron (Fe) is a cofactor for the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which are essential for mood regulation. Suboptimal Fe status may be associated with the rising prevalence of depression and antidepressant (AD) use, particularly among young adults. This project aimed to evaluate the possible associations between antidepressant use and Fe status in a cohort of East Asian (EA) and Northern European (NE) adults.

Methods: This study used data from the Fe Genes in East Asian and Northern European Adults Study (FeGenes), which compared Fe status and absorption between adults of EA and NE ancestry. Males and pre-menopausal, non-pregnant, non-lactating females of genetically confirmed EA or NE ancestry who were 18-50 years of age, non-smokers, and did not have obesity or other diseases were studied. Information on antidepressant use was self-reported via a Qualtrics survey. Fe status biomarkers (hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), total body iron (TBI)), the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP), and the regulatory hormones (hepcidin, erythropoietin (EPO), and erythroferrone (ERFE)) were measured. Elevated CRP was defined as CRP > 3.0 mg/L. Statistical analysis was conducted with JMP Pro 17 and R version 4.4.2.

Results: AD use increased with age (p = 0.03) with a higher prevalence among females (p = 0.04) and NE (p = 0.001). AD users had higher mean CRP (3.1 ± 5.9 mg/L (n = 54) vs. 1.4 ± 2.8 mg/L (n = 428), p = 0.003) and lower mean ERFE (3.3 ± 13.7 ng/mL (n = 54) vs. 5.1 ± 22.4 ng/mL (n = 428), p = 0.03) concentrations than non-AD users. AD use remained significantly associated with higher CRP concentrations (p = 0.0003) after controlling for demographic factors (age, sex, ancestry) and BMI. AD use was not significantly associated with other indicators of Fe status or regulatory hormones, before or after controlling for demographic factors and BMI.

Conclusions: Older, female participants of NE ancestry were more likely to report taking an AD than other demographic groups. AD use was also associated with higher CRP concentrations. Future investigations should examine the possible genetic, cultural, and environmental factors associated with these differences.

Funding Sources: NIH NIDDK (R01 DK122216)