THE ASSOCIATION OF DIETARY PHYTOCHEMICAL INDEX AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN WOMEN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background and Aim: Previous studies shows that unhealthy dietary pattern is one the most important modifiable factor in the development of mental disorders. There is no evidence for potential associations between dietary phytochemical index (DPI) with psychological disorders. Accordingly, we examined the association of DPI with depression, anxiety and psychological distress in Iranian women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 488 women aged 20-50 years old attending health centers in the south of Tehran in 2018 were participated. A validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for dietary assessment. Depression, anxiety and psychological distress were assessed using a validated Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS) questionnaires with 21-items. DPI was estimated using by this formula: (daily energy derived from phytochemical-rich foods (kcal)/total daily energy intake (kcal)) × 100.Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 31.85±7.67 years. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and psychological distress were 34.6%, 40.6% and 42.4% of the study participants, respectively. After controlling for potential confounders, women in the highest tertile of PI had a lower incidence of depression (0.22; 95% CIs 0.12–0.38) and anxiety (OR 0.33; 95% CIs 0.20–0.55), as well as psychological distress (OR 0.30; 95% CIs 0.18–0.49) compared with those in the lowest tertile.Conclusion: In conclusion, we found significant association between PI and psychological disorders. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords:

Dietary phytochemical index , diet quality , depression , anxiety , psychological distress