OBJECTIVE: Key biological factors that influence the development of depression are modified by diet. This study examined the extent to which the high-prevalence mental disorders are related to habitual diet in 1,046 women ages 20-93 years randomly selected from the population. METHOD: A diet quality score was derived from answers to a food frequency questionnaire, and a factor analysis identified habitual dietary patterns. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure psychological symptoms, and a structured clinical interview was used to assess current depressive and anxiety disorders. RESULTS: After adjustments for age, socioeconomic status, education, and health behaviors, a "traditional" dietary pattern characterized by vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and whole grains was associated with lower odds for major depression or dysthymia and for anxiety disorders. A "western" diet of processed or fried foods, refined grains, sugary products, and beer was associated with a higher GHQ-12 score. There was also an inverse association between diet quality score and GHQ-12 score that was not confounded by age, socioeconomic status, education, or other health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate an association between habitual diet quality and the high-prevalence mental disorders, although reverse causality and confounding cannot be ruled out as explanations. Further prospective studies are warranted.
OBJECTIVE: Key biological factors that influence the development of depression are modified by diet. This study examined the extent to which the high-prevalence mental disorders are related to habitual diet in 1,046 women ages 20-93 years randomly selected from the population. METHOD: A diet quality score was derived from answers to a food frequency questionnaire, and a factor analysis identified habitual dietary patterns. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure psychological symptoms, and a structured clinical interview was used to assess current depressive and anxiety disorders. RESULTS: After adjustments for age, socioeconomic status, education, and health behaviors, a "traditional" dietary pattern characterized by vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and whole grains was associated with lower odds for major depression or dysthymia and for anxiety disorders. A "western" diet of processed or fried foods, refined grains, sugary products, and beer was associated with a higher GHQ-12 score. There was also an inverse association between diet quality score and GHQ-12 score that was not confounded by age, socioeconomic status, education, or other health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate an association between habitual diet quality and the high-prevalence mental disorders, although reverse causality and confounding cannot be ruled out as explanations. Further prospective studies are warranted.
Authors: Jerome Sarris; Alan C Logan; Tasnime N Akbaraly; G Paul Amminger; Vicent Balanzá-Martínez; Marlene P Freeman; Joseph Hibbeln; Yutaka Matsuoka; David Mischoulon; Tetsuya Mizoue; Akiko Nanri; Daisuke Nishi; Natalie Parletta; Drew Ramsey; Julia J Rucklidge; Almudena Sanchez-Villegas; Andrew Scholey; Kuan-Pin Su; Felice N Jacka Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 49.548
Authors: Michel Lucas; Patricia Chocano-Bedoya; Matthias B Schulze; Mathias B Shulze; Fariba Mirzaei; Éilis J O'Reilly; Olivia I Okereke; Frank B Hu; Walter C Willett; Alberto Ascherio Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2013-10-01 Impact factor: 7.217
Authors: Arnstein Mykletun; Felice Jacka; Lana Williams; Julie Pasco; Margaret Henry; Geoffrey C Nicholson; Mark A Kotowicz; Michael Berk Journal: BMC Gastroenterol Date: 2010-08-05 Impact factor: 3.067