A cross-sectionally analysis of two dietary quality indices and the mental health profile in female adults

Abstract

Some studies have pointed out that several dietary patterns could be associated with a reduced risk of depression. The association of overall dietary quality incidences with risk of mental health disorders is limited. We investigated associations of current mental health outcomes with two diet quality indices. We included 977 female participants who came to the social facility of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. Dietary intake was collected with a 24-h dietary recall interview, which was used to develop a Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015. A Mediterranean diet adherence was measured with the Prevention with Mediteranean Diet (PREDIMED) and the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS)-42 was used to assess common psychological disorders. Associations between mental health outcomes and the diet indices were analysed by logistic regression models. Inverse and significant associations were observed between the two diet quality scores and mental health disorders. After fully adjustment, participants in the high group of PREDIMED score had diminished odds of depression (Odds ratio (OR): 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25-0.58), anxiety (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46-1.00), and stress (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28-0.65) than those in the low group. A lower HEI-2015, which shows a weaker relationship with mental health results according to PREDIMED results, showed persisted depressive and anxiety symptoms after fully adjustment. Our study suggests that mental health outcomes and symptoms are associated with a poorer diet quality, particularly in PREDIMED.