The relation between dietary intakes and psychological disorders in Iranian adults: a population-based study

Relationship between food group-specific intake and depression among local government employees in Japan

BACKGROUND

We aimed to examine the relationship between food group-specific intake and depression among workers in Japan.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was administered to 568 workers in 2020; 503 workers responded and 423 were included in the study. Information on sex, age, body mass index, overtime hours, sleep duration, marital status, employment position, exercise habits, smoking status, incidence of depression, and intake of energy, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, alcohol, and specific food groups were collected. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to assess the presence and severity of depression. Food group-specific intake was adjusted for energy intake using the residual method and classified into low, moderate, and high by sex. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds ratios (ORs) and trends according to sex, with the presence/absence of depression as the dependent variable and food group-specific intake as the independent variable.

RESULTS

Men in the eggs low-intake, and women in the other vegetables low- and moderate-intake and eggs moderate-intake groups had significantly higher adjusted ORs (aORs) for depression. Additionally, a dose-response relationship was observed, where the OR for depression was significantly higher in men when the intake of eggs was low (p for trend = 0.024) and in women when the intakes of other vegetables (p for trend = 0.011) and eggs (p for trend = 0.032) were low.

CONCLUSIONS

The intake of eggs in men and eggs and vegetables in women may be related to depression.

The association between dietary anti-oxidant quality score and psychological disorders among Iranian adults: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Evidence linking relation between dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) and psychological disorders is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess relationship between DAQSs and psychological disorders including depression, anxiety and stress among Iranian adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used data on 7165 participants of the recruitment phase of Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd Study (TAMYZ). Dietary intakes and psychological problems were evaluated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and the validated Iranian version of depression, anxiety and stress scale questionnaire. DAQS was calculated for each person by summing up the assigned scores to a ratio between daily consuming each of the nutrients including vitamin A, C, E, selenium, manganese, zinc and their daily recommended intake (Score of 0 for a ratio of <2/3 and 1 for a ratio of >2/3). Eventually, association between DAQS and psychological disorders was assessed via logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Although no significant relationship was observed between DAQS and psychological disorders in general population, a protective role was found for DAQS against anxiety only in women after adjusting history of chronic disease; age; marital status; education level; smoking status; total energy intake and physical activity level (second tertile versus first tertile: OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.99). However, this finding was nonsignificant after further adjustment for body mass index.

CONCLUSION

Average levels of DAQS might be related to psychological distress especially among women. However, more studies are recommended to valid the findings.

Association between Western Dietary Patterns, Typical Food Groups, and Behavioral Health Disorders: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Western dietary patterns (WDP) and typical food groups may play a major role in the risk of behavioral health disorders. Nevertheless, the relationships between WDP, common food categories, and mental health disorders lack consistency and remain incompletely understood in relation to potential mechanisms. Therefore, the objective of the present study was conducted to synthesize available evidence linking WDP and typical food groups to these outcomes. Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE were searched up to August 2023. Random effect meta-analyses were performed to obtain pooled odds ratio and the relative risk for the prevalence of outcomes and the incidence of outcomes, respectively. A total of 54 articles were included. WDP was associated with increased risk of both depression (1.19; 95% CI: 1.06-1.32) and depressive symptoms (1.20; 95% CI: 1.08-1.34). Except for high-fat dairy products, food groups are associated with an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and depressive symptoms. This review presents evidence to further understand the relationship between WDP, typical food groups, and the incidence of behavioral health disorders, and more randomized controlled trials and cohort studies are urgently required to confirm these findings and elucidate potential mechanisms.

Dietary eating patterns, dairy consumption, and anxiety: A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Nutrition affects both physical and mental health but evidence is mixed regarding potential associations between anxiety and diet, particularly dairy consumption. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of dairy consumption and/or various dietary patterns and risk of anxiety.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted in PubMed and Embase. All study designs except case reports, small case series, and SLRs were considered for inclusion. Reference lists of previously published SLRs were reviewed for any relevant additional studies. Studies of populations without dairy sensitivities exploring the association between dietary patterns and/or dairy consumption and anxiety published through May 2022 were identified using predefined eligibility criteria. Study quality was determined using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist.

RESULTS

For this SLR, 132 studies were included; 80 were cross-sectional. Studies examined different dietary patterns (e.g., Mediterranean, gluten-free) and anxiety using various anxiety scales, with 19 studies specifically reporting on whole dairy consumption and anxiety. Dairy consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of anxiety in 7 studies, while the remaining 12 studies showed no significant associations. Evidence was mixed for the association between various dietary patterns and anxiety, but more studies observed a lower risk of anxiety with greater adherence to "healthy" diets (e.g., Mediterranean, diet quality score, vegetarian/vegan) than a higher risk. Notable heterogeneity in study populations, time periods, geographical locations, dietary assessment methods, and anxiety scales was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this SLR suggest a potential link between diet including diary consumption and anxiety, but future studies, especially with longitudinal designs that measure diet and anxiety at several timepoints and comprehensively adjust for confounders, are needed to fully understand the relationship between diet and anxiety.

Food4healthKG: Knowledge graphs for food recommendations based on gut microbiota and mental health

Food is increasingly acknowledged as a powerful means to promote and maintain mental health. The introduction of the gut-brain axis has been instrumental in understanding the impact of food on mental health. It is widely reported that food can significantly influence gut microbiota metabolism, thereby playing a pivotal role in maintaining mental health. However, the vast amount of heterogeneous data published in recent research lacks systematic integration and application development. To remedy this, we construct a comprehensive knowledge graph, named Food4healthKG, focusing on food, gut microbiota, and mental diseases. The constructed workflow includes the integration of numerous heterogeneous data, entity linking to a normalized format, and the well-designed representation of the acquired knowledge. To illustrate the availability of Food4healthKG, we design two case studies: the knowledge query and the food recommendation based on Food4healthKG. Furthermore, we propose two evaluation methods to validate the quality of the results obtained from Food4healthKG. The results demonstrate the system's effectiveness in practical applications, particularly in providing convincing food recommendations based on gut microbiota and mental health. Food4healthKG is accessible at https://github.com/ccszbd/Food4healthKG.

Association between dietary anthocyanidins intake and depression among US adults: a cross-sectional study (NHANES, 2007-2010 and 2017-2018)

BACKGROUND

Anthocyanidins encompass a diverse array of compounds that possess notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties with pharmacological activity. However, the correlation between the consumption of anthocyanidins through diet and its impact on depression has yet to be investigated.

METHODS

This study utilized the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) expanded flavonoid intake database, as well as data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the years 2007 to 2010 and 2017 to 2018. The analysis of the collected data was conducted in R, following the guidelines outlined in the official NHANES user guide "Stratified Multi-stage Probability Sampling". Three different models were developed using logistic regression to assess the protective effects of T3 (representing the highest intake of anthocyanidins) against depression. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate whether there existed a non-linear relationship between the dietary intake of anthocyanidins and the prevalence of depression by employing restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 6,845 eligible participants were included in this cross-sectional study, with their data appropriately weighted to represent a population of 89.8 million people in the United States of America. The results demonstrated that individuals diagnosed with depression had a significantly lower dietary intake of anthocyanidins compared to those without depression (P < 0.0001). Moreover, significant differences were observed among different participant groups regarding socioeconomic status and the presence of chronic physical illnesses (such as hypertension, glucose status, and chronic kidney disease risk, etc.) (P < 0.05). After adjustment for covariates, participants with the highest intake of anthocyanins (T3) demonstrated a significantly reduced risk of depression [OR_T3 = 0.67, 95%CI: (0.48-0.95), (P_trend= 0.02]. Furthermore, the RCS analysis revealed a significant linear relationship between dietary anthocyanidin intake and depression (P for non-linear = 0.5876).

CONCLUSION

Our findings reveal a negative association between dietary anthocyanidin intake and depression.

Nutritional factors and cross-national postpartum depression prevalence: an updated meta-analysis and meta-regression of 412 studies from 46 countries

Background

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication associated with childbirth and can lead to adverse outcomes for both mothers and their children. A previous meta-analysis found that PPD prevalence varies widely across countries. One potential underexplored contributor to this cross-national variation in PPD is diet, which contributes to mental health and varies significantly around the world. Here, we sought to update the global and national estimates of PPD prevalence using systematic review and meta-analysis. Further, we examined whether cross-national variation in PPD prevalence is associated with cross-national variation in diet using meta-regression.

Methods

To estimate national rates of PPD prevalence, we conducted an updated systematic review of all papers reporting PPD prevalence using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale between 2016-2021 and combined our findings with a previous meta-analysis of articles published between 1985-2015. PPD prevalence and methods were extracted from each study. Random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate global and national PPD prevalence. To examine dietary predictors, we extracted data on sugar-sweetened beverage, fruit, vegetable, total fiber, yogurt, and seafood consumption from the Global Dietary Database. Random effects meta-regression was used to test whether between-country and within-country variation in dietary factors predicted variation in PPD prevalence, controlling for economic and methodological variables.

Results

412 studies of 792,055 women from 46 countries were identified. The global pooled prevalence of PPD was 19.18% (95% confidence interval: 18.02 to 20.34%), ranging from 3% in Singapore to 44% in South Africa. Countries that consumed more sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) had higher rates of PPD (Coef. = 0.325, p = 0.044, CI:0.010-0.680); Moreover, in years when higher rates of sugar-sweetened beverages were consumed in a country, there were correspondingly higher rates of PPD in that country (Coef. = 0.129, p = 0.026, CI: 0.016-0.242).

Conclusion

The global prevalence of PPD is greater than previous calculations, and drastically varies by country. Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption explained some of the national variation in PPD prevalence.

Fermented dairy foods consumption and depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis of cohort studies

BACKGROUND

The gut-brain axis has been potentially proposed as a link between the intake of fermented dairy foods and depression. We carried out this meta-analysis on published cohort studies to estimate the overall depression risk of fermented dairy foods intake.

METHODS

We searched the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and PubMed databases for all articles within a range of published years from 2010 to 2022 on the association between fermented dairy foods intake and depression.

RESULTS

Finally, 8 studies met the inclusion criteria for this study, with 83,533 participants. Overall, there was statistical evidence of significantly decreased depression risk was found to be associated with fermented dairy foods intake (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81-0.98). In subgroup analysis, cheese and yogurt consumptions were significantly associated with decreased depression risk (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.84-0.98 for cheese and OR = 0. 84, 95% CI = 0.72-0.99 for yogurt). However, we failed to find superabundant intake of fermented dairy foods intake decreased the risk of depression.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis indicated that fermented dairy foods intake may have potential beneficial effect on depression via the gut-brain axis.

Egg consumption reduces the risk of depressive symptoms in the elderly: findings from a 6-year cohort study

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence showed that dietary habits might modify the risk of depression. This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal association of egg consumption with depressive symptoms in the Chinese elderly.

METHODS

We analyzed the data from Zhejiang Ageing and Health Cohort Study including 8289 participants. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms at baseline and three waves of follow-up (2015, 2016, and 2019-2020). A PHQ-9 cut-off score ≥ 5 was used to define depressive symptoms. The participants with depressive symptoms at baseline were excluded. Egg consumption was evaluated through the diet habits section of the baseline questionnaire. Self-reported egg consumption was measured as the number of eggs per week and categorized into three categories. Log-binomial regression models with Generalized Estimating Equations were utilized to evaluate the association of egg consumption with depressive symptoms and estimate relative risks (RRs).

RESULTS

The mean age of included participants was 68.6 years. After 6 years of follow-up, 1385 (16.7%) participants were indicated with depressive symptoms by PHQ-9 at least once. Compared with non-consumers or less-than-weekly consumers, participants consuming < 3 eggs/week and ≥ 3 eggs/week had 30% (RR = 0.70, 95%CI 0.62-0.80) and 38% (RR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.54-0.71) lower risks of depressive symptoms, respectively. A linear association was confirmed (P for trend < 0.01), and each egg increment per week was associated with a 4% lower risk of depressive symptoms (RR = 0.96, 95%CI 0.93-0.99). Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results to the main analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Egg consumption is prospectively related to a lower risk of depressive symptoms in the Chinese elderly. More prospective studies are needed to verify the association.

Associations of overall and specific carbohydrate intake with anxiety status evolution in the prospective NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort

We investigated the association between carbohydrate intake and anxiety evolution within the general-population NutriNet-Santé cohort (N = 15,602; 73.8% female; mean age = 53.8y; mean follow-up = 5.4y). Carbohydrate intake was estimated at baseline from ≥ 2 24-h dietary records. Trait anxiety (STAI-T) was measured once at baseline (2013-2016) and once at follow-up (2020), resulting in 4 groups: "None" = absence of high anxiety (STAI-T > 40 points) at any time point; "Transient" = high anxiety only at baseline; "Onset at follow-up" = high anxiety only at follow-up; "Persistent" = high anxiety at baseline and follow-up. Polytomous logistic regression models revealed that sweetened beverage intake was associated with higher odds of "Transient" anxiety (OR_Q4vsQ1 = 1.11; 95% CI 1.02-1.21). Intake of complex carbohydrates (OR_Q4vsQ1 = 1.12; 1.01-1.25) was associated with higher odds of anxiety "Onset at follow-up." The % energy from carbohydrates (OR_Q4vsQ1 = 1.11; 1.03-1.19), intakes of total carbohydrates (OR_Q4vsQ1 = 1.10; 1.03-1.18) and complex carbohydrates (OR_Q4vsQ1 = 1.09; 1.02-1.17) were associated with higher odds of "Persistent" anxiety, whereas 100% fruit juice intake showed lower odds of "Persistent" anxiety (OR_Q4vsQ1 = 0.87; 0.81-0.94). This prospective study found significant associations between dietary carbohydrate intake and anxiety status evolution among French adults. The findings could help inform dietary interventions aimed at anxiety prevention and management.

Association between food insecurity and perceived stress among older adults (50+) in six low- and middle-income countries

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we assess the relationship between food insecurity andperceived stress among older adults (50+) in six low- and middle-income countries of China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and, South Africa.

METHODS

Cross-sectional comparative analysis was conducted using nationally representative data from the WHO's Study on global AGEing and adult health survey. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses examine if food insecurity was associated with perceived stress. We also examined the mediating role of health conditions on the association between food insecurity and perceived stress.

RESULTS

Across countries, the mean perceived stress score was higher among the older population with food insecurity. Regression analysis showed significant and positive association between food insecurity and perceived stress. Findings from the pooled data of six countries showed, older adults who experienced severe food insecurity (β = 4.05, p < .001) had higher perceived stress scores. The association was statistically significant in India, Russia, South Africa, and Ghana.

CONCLUSION

Food insecurity showed significant adverse impact on perceived stress among the older population in low- and middle-income countries. Policy measures to reduce household food insecurity are important for improving both mental and physical health conditions of the growing older population in low- and middle-income countries.

A plant-based dietary score and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Iranian children: A case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with a prevalence of 5 % among children and adolescents worldwide. Plant foods have a protective effect against inflammation and oxidative stress which both are involved in psychiatric disorders pathophysiology including ADHD. Accordingly, we investigated the association between plant-based diet (PDI) and ADHD.

METHODS

This case-control study was conducted on 345children and adolescents 7-13 years old in Yazd, Iran. Subjects were categorized into the case (n = 113) and control groups (n = 232) based on matching age and sex. To diagnose ADHD, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSMIV-TR) was used. Food frequency questionnaire was used to measure food intake. The association of PDI with ADHD was examined by logistic regression.

RESULTS

Children in the highest quartile of PDI compared to the lowest quartile had a higher energy and macronutrient intake, calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin B12, B6, and folic acid. After adjusting for potential confounders, a significant decreasing trend in the odds of ADHD across increasing quartiles of the PDI (P-trend = 0.001) was observed. In addition, children in the fourth quartile of PDI had 68 % lower odds of ADHD than the first quartile. This association remained significant after further adjustment for BMI (OR: 0.32;95 % CI: 0.13-0.79; P for trend: 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We found that PDI is associated with lower risk of ADHD in children. Cohort and clinical studies are necessary to approve our results.

Biological Role of Nutrients, Food and Dietary Patterns in the Prevention and Clinical Management of Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a growing disabling condition affecting around 280 million people worldwide. This complex entity is the result of the interplay between biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, and compelling evidence suggests that MDD can be considered a disease that occurs as a consequence of an evolutionary mismatch and unhealthy lifestyle habits. In this context, diet is one of the core pillars of health, influencing multiple biological processes in the brain and the entire body. It seems that there is a bidirectional relationship between MDD and malnutrition, and depressed individuals often lack certain critical nutrients along with an aberrant dietary pattern. Thus, dietary interventions are one of the most promising tools to explore in the field of MDD, as there are a specific group of nutrients (i.e., omega 3, vitamins, polyphenols, and caffeine), foods (fish, nuts, seeds fruits, vegetables, coffee/tea, and fermented products) or dietary supplements (such as S-adenosylmethionine, acetyl carnitine, creatine, amino acids, etc.), which are being currently studied. Likewise, the entire nutritional context and the dietary pattern seem to be another potential area of study, and some strategies such as the Mediterranean diet have demonstrated some relevant benefits in patients with MDD; although, further efforts are still needed. In the present work, we will explore the state-of-the-art diet in the prevention and clinical support of MDD, focusing on the biological properties of its main nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns and their possible implications for these patients.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Blood Pressure, Mental Health, and Quality of Life in Hypertensive Adult Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases. Patients with hypertension have a lower quality of life. We aimed to evaluate the effects of mindfulness meditation on blood pressure, mental health, and quality of life in patients with hypertension.

METHODS

This randomized clinical trial was performed in 2019 in Isfahan. Eighty adult women with Stage I or II hypertension were included and assigned randomly to 2 groups: 12 weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and routine care. At baseline and 1 week after the end of the intervention, blood pressure, stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life of the studied participants were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test, the paired t-test, and the MANCOVA test.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly in the intervention group compared with the baseline (142.82±11.01 mmHg vs 133.7±510.43 mmHg for systolic pressure and 86.12±8.24 mmHg vs 79.15±6.26 mmHg for diastolic pressure) and the control group (140.18±14.27 mmHg vs 142.15±10.23 mmHg for systolic pressure and 84.62±9.22 vs mmHg 88.51±8.54 mmHg for diastolic pressure; P=0.001). There was also a significant increase in quality of life, stress, anxiety, and depression scores in the intervention group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The 12-week MBSR program resulted in a significant reduction in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures and improvement in mental health and different aspects of quality of life.

Criterion validity and reliability of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Hungarian short form against the RM42 accelerometer

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity is a global phenomenon in European welfare countries. Proper monitoring is essential to measure the physical activity level of the population.

METHODS

In the Hungarian cohort of the European Physical Activity and Sport Monitoring System (EUPASMOS) project, our participants (N = 598) completed sociodemographic questions and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - short form (IPAQ-SF) survey. The validity and reliability of the subjective measurement tool were examined, IPAQ-SF outcomes were contrasted against triaxial RM42 accelerometer wore for 7 consecutive days.

RESULTS

The IPAQ-SF showed moderate internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha = 0.647). The concurrent validity of the IPAQ-SF to triaxial accelerometer indicated a significant weak-to-moderate correlation (R = 0.111-0.338, p = 0.042; p < 0.001). The test-retest reliability showed a significant correlation between two measurements (R = 0.788-0.981, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The Hungarian version of the IPAQ-SF had excellent test-retest reliability, but low-to-fair concurrent validity for moderate and vigorous physical activity, walking and sitting time, as compared to the objective criterion measure among Hungarian adults.

The relation between low carbohydrate diet score and psychological disorders among Iranian adults

BACKGROUND

Since evidence regarding to low carbohydrate diet (LCD) and psychiatric disorders is little and controversial, this study aimed to assess relation between LCD score and psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, and stress among a large representative sample of Iranian adult population in Yazd city, Iran.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis was conducted on data of 7165 persons who participated in the recruitment phase of Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd (TAMIZ) study. Dietary intakes were evaluated by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. LCD score was calculated for each person according to summing up assigned scores to deciles of percentages of energy from macronutrients. Assessment of psychological disorders was also conducted by the validated Iranian version of depression, anxiety and stress scale questionnaire (DASS 21). Eventually, association between adherence to LCD and psychological disorders was evaluated via logistic regression.

RESULTS

After adjusting the confounders, women in the third quartile of LCD score might had 38% lower chance of depression versus those in the first quartile (odds ratio (OR) = 0.62, confidence interval (CI) = 0.42-0.93). However, no significant relationship was observed for other psychological disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

More adherences to LCD might be associated with lower chance of depression only among women. Further studies special prospective studies are required to validate these results.