Abstract
Background: The relation between dietary inflammation and risk of depression has not been widely explored. We examined the association between the inflammatory effect of the diet and the odds of depression among Iranian female adolescents.Methods: Using a stratified cluster sampling technique, 300 female adolescents aged 15–18 years were recruited from schools in Tehran between years 2014–2015. Depression was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)- a 21-point scale. The dietary inflammatory index (DII®) was used to evaluate the inflammatory potential of the diet. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. In addition to descriptive statistics, multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to calculate confounder-adjusted beta estimates and odds ratios.Results: In total, 88 females (30%) had at least a moderate level of depressive symptoms (DASS > 6). Females with the most pro-inflammatory diet had higher DASS depression score (β = 1.67; 95% CI = 0.03, 3.31) and were at 3.96 (95% CI = 1.12, 13.97) times higher odds of having at least moderate depressive symptoms, compared to females with the least anti-inflammatory diets.Conclusion: These data suggest that Iranian adolescent females eating a pro-inflammatory diet, as indicated by higher DII scores, had greater odds of having at least moderate depressive symptoms.
Highlights
Depression is expected to become the world’s second leading disease burden, after cardiovascular disease, by 2020 according the World Health Organization [1]
Our aim was to assess the association between the inflammatory potential of diet of adolescent Iranian females, as indicated by higher dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores, and dimensions of depression as measured by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) [54]
Subjects were chosen from a registration list by simple random sampling to fulfill the sample size requirement (n = 300).We did not include participants who reported major depression and anxiety disorder, using of any anti-depressant or sedative medication and who were pursuing a distinct diet, because there is a high probability that people with these disorders and taking antidepressant or sedative medications would have made lifestyle changes like adopting a healthier diet that may bias the results
Summary
Depression is expected to become the world’s second leading disease burden, after cardiovascular disease, by 2020 according the World Health Organization [1]. In Iran, major depression is the most prevalent mood disorder, with a prevalence rate of 2.98% among the entire population and 4.38% among women [3]. Several metabolic and inflammatory processes, such as reduced insulin sensitivity, elevations in plasma homocysteine levels and, perhaps more importantly, increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and endothelial dysfunction, seem to be the major factors responsible for the depression [3, 4]. Proinflammatory cytokines like c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 act by reducing brain monoamine levels, activating neuroendocrine responses, promoting excitotoxicity (increased glutamate levels), and impairing brain plasticity modulate mood behavior which can result in depression [6]. We examined the association between the inflammatory effect of the diet and the odds of depression among Iranian female adolescents
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
