The Role of Iron Deficiency as Trigger for Depression: A Biochemical and Psychological Perspective

Abstract

Objective: To investigates the role of iron deficiency as a determinant of depression as perceived from both a biochemical and a psychological perspective.

Study Design: Case control study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Al-Rifai Teaching Hospital in Dhi Qar, Iraq from 1st November 2024 to 30th June 2025.

Methods: 162 participants were enrolled. Self-inventory instrument has been used which included two domains, psychological domain by using Beck`s depression inventory to assess depression level and the other domain is the biochemical domain which include biochemical sample and analysis of 5 ml venous blood samples were collected from participants and placed in a 2 ml anticoagulated tube for complete blood count measurement, which included white blood cell, red blood cell, Hemoglobin A1c and hematocrit only, and 3 ml in a yellow gel tube for ferritin and B12 measurement. Participants were divided into two groups; control group those with no depression and depressed group (cases) those with depression.

Result: Depression level among depressed group was high 65%. The differences between control subjects either moderate or severe anemia regarding age, gender and body mass index. Ferritin showed significant decreases among patients who had either moderate anemia or severe anemia when compared to participants in the control group (p<0.01) which proved iron deficiency as a primary condition within these groups. The anemic groups exhibited diminished levels of all three markers (hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell) which confirm the clinical
presentation of anemia.

Conclusion: Biochemical and psychological investigation support highly converging evidence for a role of iron deficiency in depressive symptoms, and as anemia and depression increase ferritin decrease and as response to the inflammatory process white blood cell also increases.