Mediated effect of white blood cell on the association between 1-hydroxynaphthalene and the prevalence of depression: Evidence from the NHANES (2005–2016)

This study investigated the impact of exposure to 1-hydroxynaphthalene on depression prevalence, with a special focus on the mediating role of inflammatory factors. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005 to 2016, this study assessed how 1-hydroxynaphthalene affects depression prevalence through various statistical techniques. The investigation began with restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to explore the relationship between 1-hydroxynaphthalene levels and depression prevalence. Logistic regression was then used to examine associations within polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures , alongside the Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression model. Furthermore, the Quantile G-Computation (QG-comp) model was used to evaluate the influence weights and directions. A mediation analysis was also performed to assess the mediating role of inflammatory factors on the relationship between 1-hydroxynaphthalene and depression prevalence. The study, involving 7813 participants, found a significant J-shaped association between 1-hydroxynaphthalene exposure and depression prevalence (OR (95% CI) = 14.4579 (5.8118-35.9665), P < .0001), with 1-hydroxynaphthalene showing the strongest positive contribution to depression prevalence within the phthalate mixture. Inflammatory factors were identified as mediators in the link between 1-hydroxynaphthalene exposure and depression. The findings highlight a significant association between 1-hydroxynaphthalene exposure and depression prevalence, with inflammatory factors acting as mediators. This suggests that inflammatory factors could mediate the harmful effects of environmental pollutants on depression prevalence.