Malnutrition With Depression

Malnutrition and depression seem to be linked, especially among elderly people, according to a study presented to the International Congress of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Edinburgh in 2010. Having one of these two conditions can make you more likely to develop the other for various reasons. However, not everyone who is depressed will become malnourished, and not everyone who is malnourished will become depressed.

Malnutrition Due to Depression

People who are depressed sometimes do not feel like eating, and if this goes on long enough it can lead to malnutrition. A 2002 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that depression was responsible for many cases of malnutrition in nursing homes, and elderly people admitted to the hospital were more likely to be malnourished if they were depressed.

Depression Due to Malnutrition

Some nutrient deficiencies can cause depression. Depression is a symptom of both niacin and zinc deficiency, according to the World Health Organization. However, these deficiencies do not usually cause depression unless they are severe, and there will likely be other symptoms of deficiency before depression occurs. Nevertheless, if you are feeling depressed you might want to get your levels of zinc and niacin checked to make sure they are adequate.

Considerations

Depression is not the only cause of malnutrition. Other factors, including eating disorders, illness, gastrointestinal or stomach problems and not eating enough food or the right types of food can all lead to malnutrition. Elderly people may have trouble getting around enough to be able to purchase and prepare the food that they need, and some people do not have enough money to purchase as much food as they need.

Recommendations

People who suffer from depression are more likely to be malnourished, making depression a risk factor for malnutrition, notes a study published in 2003 in the "American Journal of Kidney Disease." Patients who are either depressed or malnourished should be tested to see if they are also suffering from the other condition, according to Dr. Shakil Alam of the Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust in London, UK.