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ABSTRACT
Background: In the present study, we explored the association between major dietary patterns, odds, and severity of anxiety disorders, which has not been clarified to date.
Methods: This case–control study was conducted on 85 patients who were group-matched by gender with 170 healthy subjects. Dietary intakes were evaluated applying a 147-item validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Anthropometric data collection was accomplished based on precise clinical assessments. Major dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis (PCA). Multivariate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to investigate the association of the identified dietary patterns with anxiety disorders. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the GAD-7 score and major dietary pattern scores.
Results: Three major dietary patterns were derived through PCA labeled as ‘healthy’, ‘Western’, and ‘Mixed’. Those in the top tertile of the healthy dietary pattern were less likely to have anxiety disorders (OR = 0.26; 95%CI: 0.10, 0.66), while no significant relationship was found between Western and mixed dietary patterns and the odds of anxiety disorders. The severity of anxiety disorders, assessed by the GAD-7 score, was reduced by higher adherence to healthy dietary pattern (P = 0.003), and increased by greater adherence to mixed (P = 0.002) and Western (P = 0.001) dietary patterns.
Conclusion: We provided evidence demonstrating an inverse association of healthy dietary pattern with odds, and severity of anxiety disorders. Also, higher adherence to Western and mixed dietary patterns resulted in greater GAD-7 scores.
Acknowledgements
This is a part of the master's thesis of Kimia Torabynasab, which was carried out with permission and under the supervision of Iran University of Medical Sciences. The authors thank the subjects who participated in the study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Ethics approval and consent to participate
This study was conducted applying the Declaration of Helsinki framework. Following a thorough explanation of the project, all participants signed informed consent. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Science on January 1st 2022 (IR.IUMS.REC.1400.868).
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets generated or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to restrictions e.g. their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Competing interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Authors’ contributions
KT and SJ contributed to conception/design of the research; KT and HSH contributed to acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the data; KT and SHZ drafted the manuscript; SJ critically revised the manuscript, and SJ agrees to be fully accountable for ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Kimia Torabynasab
Kimia Torabynasab is currently a PhD student in Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on nutrition and psychiatric diseases.
Hossein Shahinfar
Hossein Shahinfar is a PhD student at Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences. His research focuses on nutritional epidemiology.
Sheida Zeraattalab-Motlagh
Sheida Zeraattalab-Motlagh is a PhD student in Department of Health and Human Performance in Houston university. Her research focuses on understanding and correcting overeating behaviors in early family units.
Shima Jazayeri
Shima Jazayeri is a professor at Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on nutrition and psychiatric diseases.
Mohammad Effatpanah
Mohammad Effatpanah is a faculty member at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. His research focuses on psychiatry, abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, and health psychology.
Leila Azadbakht
Leila Azadbakht is a professor at Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on diabetology, nutrition and Dietetics, and nutritional Biochemistry.