Association between Dietary Patterns and Major Depression in Adult Females: A Case-Control Study

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. This study aimed todetermine the association between dietary patterns and major depression in adult females.Study design: A case-control study.Methods: This study was conducted on adult females suffering from major depression within theage range from ۱۹ to ۶۵ years. The total participants of this study included ۱۷۰ cases and ۳۴۰controls. Dietary intakes were collected using a ۱۶۸-item validated semi-quantitative foodfrequencyquestionnaire. Household food security was measured using a locally adaptedHousehold Food Insecurity Access Scale. Moreover, the depression status of the adult femaleswas assessed through a validated “Beck” questionnaire. Logistic regression was utilized to assessthe association between dietary pattern scores and depression.Results: The mean ±SD ages of the participants were ۳۶.۹۷ ±۱۱.۲۸ and ۳۶.۰۷ ±۱۰.۵۸ years in thecase and control groups, respectively (P=۰.۳۷۴), and five major dietary patterns were extracted inthis study. The odds ratio (OR) in the last adjusted model was (OR: ۰.۶۱; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۴۶, ۰.۸۱);therefore, the “Healthy pattern” was significantly inversely associated with the odds of depression.Adherence to the “Western pattern” significantly increased depression by ۲۹% (OR: ۱.۲۹; ۹۵% CI:۱.۰۶, ۱.۵۹). Furthermore, the “Traditional pattern” was positively associated with depression (OR:۱.۱۶; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۹۴, ۱.۴۳). There was no significant association between “Sugar and fast food” and“red meat and oils” dietary pattern and depression.Conclusions: Healthy dietary pattern reduces the risk of depression in adult females; however,the western and traditional dietary patterns increases this risk.