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Abstract

The world’s older population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Iran is 1 of the countries where the aging population is higher than the global average. Depression is 1 of the most common issues in older adults that can be managed by nonpharmacologic interventions such as the consumption of green tea. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of green tea consumption on depression in the elderly people. In this quasi-experimental study, 76 elderly people who were residents in a nursing home and met the inclusion criteria were selected through simple random sampling. Then, green tea in 3-g tea bags was brewed in 80°C water and half an hour after breakfast and lunch was given to the participants in a 5-week protocol. One day after the last time of brewing green tea, participants were assessed with a standard depression questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS Version 19 software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). The descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon statistical test analysis were also conducted at a significant level of P < .05. Based on the findings, the mean score of the participants’ depression level decreased by 2.5 points after the intervention, which is statistically significant at a 99.9% confidence interval (P = .001). The findings also suggest that the severe depression decreased from 23.6% to 11.1%, moderate depression decreased from 45.8% to 26.4%, and mild depression increased from 30.6% to 45.8%; only severe and moderate depression cases were reduced (P = . 001). The findings of the present study reveal that regular consumption of green tea can lead to a considerable reduction of depression in the elderly people. Accordingly, the consumption of this tea in the elderly people’s diet is recommended, especially those who are resident in the care centers.

Aging is a critical period of human life in which human beings are more exposed to potential threats such as chronic diseases, loneliness, and isolation, and because of physical and mental disabilities, their personal independence is often threatened.1 The growth of the elderly population will be about 3.5 times the total population growth until 2025.2 According to the general population and housing census of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2016, about 9.3% of the population is aged 60 years or over.3 The percentage of the elderly population of Iran is projected to reach more than 12% in 2025.4 About 15% to 25% of older people have crucial psychological problems that can exert a potential influence on their physical illness.5 Depression is 1 of the most common mental health problems among the elderly people, which falls into the category of mood disorders,6 and is closely associated with the level of mortality in the elderly.7 The prevalence of obvious clinical signs of depression among the elderly in the community is 8% to 15%, and in the elderly living in nursing homes, it is about 30%.