Serum Ferritin and Vitamin B12 as Indicators of Mood Symptom Severity in Adult Women: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Depressive mood disorders are highly prevalent among adult women and are influenced by nutritional, inflammatory, and neuroendocrine factors. Biomarkers including ferritin, vitamin B12, serotonin, cortisol, Creactive protein (CRP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) are important for neurotransmitter production, stress regulation, and brain function. This study investigated the relationship between micronutrient levels, oxidative stress markers, and severity of depressive symptoms in adult females. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period between January 2022 and December 2024 on 125 women aged 18–45 years attending an outpatient clinic. Depression severity was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum ferritin, vitamin B12, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), serotonin, cortisol, CRP, and MDA using immunoassay methods. Participants were grouped according to symptom severity. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression. Severe depressive symptoms were associated with significantly reduced ferritin, vitamin B12, and serotonin levels, along with elevated TIBC, cortisol, CRP, and MDA levels (p < 0.05). Ferritin and vitamin B12 showed negative correlations with depression scores, whereas cortisol and inflammatory markers showed positive correlations. Logistic regression identified ferritin, vitamin B12, TIBC, and cortisol as significant predictors of depression severity. Depression severity is closely linked to micronutrient imbalance, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine dysfunction. Combined biomarker evaluation may aid diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in women with depressive disorders.