Understanding the relationship between selenium intake, infertility, and depressive symptoms in women suggests potential personalized nutritional interventions to mitigate depressive risks associated with infertility.

To examine the links between infertility, dietary selenium intake, and depressive symptoms in women, and explore how the intake of selenium influences the relationship between infertility and depression.

In this investigation, data from 4,949 women were collected from the database of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weighted logistic regression analyses, both univariable and multivariable, were employed to examine the connections between selenium use or infertility and the probability of experiencing depressive symptoms. Additionally, the study evaluated how selenium intake regulates the risk of depressive symptoms connected with infertility.

Infertility was linked to a higher risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.11–2.15), while women with selenium intake ≥55 μg had a reduced risk (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46–0.90). Among those with selenium intake <55 μg, infertility was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.03–3.90) compared to women without infertility. 

However, there was no significant increase in depressive symptoms risk among women with infertility who had selenium intake ≥55 μg compared to those without infertility with similar selenium intake (p > 0.05).

Selenium intake moderated the link between infertility and depressive symptoms in women.