A Case Study en the Effect of Ca Intake on Depression and Anxiety

This study was to investigate 1) the correlation of serum Ca, with depression and anxiety ; and 2) the effect of Ca intake on those symptoms. The subjects were three females and two males who were 53-66 years old with the severe subjective symptoms of depression and anxiety. They have taken more than twice Ca of RDA(recommended dietary allowances for Koreans) daily for 6 months(dietary treatment). The prestudy Ca intake of the subjects was low: 60% of RDA for Koreans. Their serum Ca concentration was also low: 6.67 $\pm$ 0.15mg/d1 before the dietary treatment. They expressed severs depression and anxiety, with high self scores in a psychological test. Their serum Ca concentration increased to 8.32 $\pm$ 0.17mg/dl after six months of dietary treatment, while the symptoms of depression and anxiety decreased significantly after two months and nearly disappeared after six months. This result seemed to be an effect of the dietary high Ca intake. Serum Ca and the psychological states of depression and anxiety correlated negatively, and the coefficients of determination were high in the results of linear regression analysis of depression and anxiety by serum Ca. Therefore the serum Ca concentration could be a good marker to predict depression or anxiety relatively well. The continuous high Ca intake could decrease the probability of developing depression or anxiety and mitigate their symptoms because serum Ca concentration increased, while the state of depression and anxiety decreased with the increased Ca intake.

칼슘섭취가 60세 전후 성인의 우울 및 불안 성향에 미치는 영향에 관한 사례연구