Skip to main content
NUTRITION 2025 Main banner

Late Breaking/Rapid Science Poster Session 2

(LB02-03-25) Post-Pandemic Changes in Depressive Symptoms and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Women of Reproductive Age: NHANES 2015-2023

Sunday, June 1, 2025
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board D-79
Disclosure(s):
Hayven Sea Belsapin, MS, RDN, LDN: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Derek C. Miketinas, PhD, RD: ingredion: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Mead Johnson Nutrition/Reckitt: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing); Independent Contractor (including contracted research) (Ongoing)


Objectives: Depression and inflammation can impact dietary intake and nutritional status. The purpose of this analysis was to describe changes in depressive symptoms in women of reproductive age following the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate the relationship between depression and inflammatory biomarkers.

Methods: This secondary analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2023 (2015-2016, 2017-March 2020, August 2021-August 2023) included 3,423 nonpregnant women 20-44y. Responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire were used to classify depression (total score ≥ 10). Inflammatory biomarkers Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein (AGP) and high-sensitivity C reactive-protein (hsCRP) were analyzed from serum using immunoturbidimetry and near infrared particle immunoassay rate methodology, respectively. All analyses were adjusted for the NHANES sampling design and used appropriate sample weights. Differences in depression across NHANES cycle were tested using independent samples t-tests. Least squared mean differences in AGP and hsCRP between those with and without depression were compared using independent samples t-test; obesity was included as a covariate.

Results: Mean[SE] depression prevalence was 9.9[1.1]% 2015-2016, 11.3[1.3]% in 2017-March 2020, and increased significantly to 18.5[1.9]% in 2021-2023 (p = .003) . Those with depression reported significantly greater Least squared mean[SE] AGP (0.86[0.02] vs 0.81[0.01] g/L; p = .002) and CRP (6.2[0.6] vs 4.7[0.2] mg/L;p = .025) compared to those without depression. There were no significant differences in elevated AGP ( > 1 g/L) or hsCRP ( > 10 mg/L) between groups (p = .536, and p = .097; respectively).

Conclusions: Women of reproductive age reported significant increases in depression following the COVID-19 pandemic and those with depression reported significantly greater inflammatory biomarkers. These changes may impact dietary intake and nutritional biomarkers sensitive to inflammation status.

Funding Sources: None