Riboflavin status and its association with serum hs-CRP levels among clinical nurses with depression.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of present study was to assess the relationship between the dietary intake and blood status of riboflavin and the prevalence of systemic inflammation among both depressed and nondepressed nurses.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 98 female clinical nurses (45 depressed and 53 nondepressed subjects). Depression status was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory. We assessed dietary intake of riboflavin using 3-day 24-hour recalls. The serum concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were also measured. Riboflavin status was assessed as the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC).

RESULTS: Marginal riboflavin deficiency was more prevalent in depressed subjects (P = 0.028). The results of the dietary intake and status of riboflavin were classified to 3 tertiles of serum hs-CRP levels. In both nondepressed and depressed subjects, there was no significant difference between hs-CRP tertiles in dietary intakes of riboflavin, EGRAC, or riboflavin deficiencies.

CONCLUSION: This study showed a higher prevalence of marginal riboflavin deficiency in depressed subjects. We found no association between dietary intake and status of riboflavin with low-grade systematic inflammation in nondepressed and depressed clinical nurses.