LAUSR

D EPRESSION IS A common mental disorder that can be long-lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual’s well-being and ability to function in daily life. Depression is becoming one of the most important problems for occupational health in terms of absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace. Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are two major axes for the treatment of depression. Exercise intervention may also be useful for reducing depressive symptoms. Nutrition and microelements play important roles in the pathogenesis of depression. Diets higher in plant foods, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and lean proteins, including fish, are related to a reduction in the risk of depression. In contrast, diets that include more processed foods and sugary products are associated with an increased risk of depression. The Mediterranean diet may prevent some types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and depression. A report demonstrated the link between depression and the consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are abundant in fish oil and nutritional psychiatry has received increased attention recently. This issue of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences includes a report by Hidese et al., who performed a web-based study to examine the relation between iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and depression in a sample of 11 876 Japanese individuals comprising participants with depression and population-based controls. The authors found that the rate of selfreported lifetime history of IDA was higher in the depression group for both men and women. The six-item Kessler Scale scores were higher for participants with self-reported histories of IDA in both the depression and control groups. Based on these results, the authors speculated that IDA is associated with depression and higher rates of psychological distress. As this was a web-based cross-sectional selfreport survey, the results must be reconfirmed and reinforced by more robust studies. The article, however, sheds light on the relation between deficiencies of minor elements, such as iron and zinc, and a depressive state. Folate and some vitamins are also associated with a depressive state. This knowledge will facilitate the treatment and/or prevention of depression and provides the basis for research on the effects of nutrition, essential trace elements, and probiotics on the brain. Psychiatrists should pay more attention to nutritional approaches for better mental health, because both environmental factors, including daily diet, and individual genetic factors can contribute to the pathogenesis of mental disorders.