Dietary Inflammatory Potential, Inflammation-Related Lifestyle Factors, and Incident Anxiety Disorders: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

It is unclear whether diet-associated inflammation is related to the development of anxiety disorders. We aimed to investigate the association between energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII) scores and the incidence of anxiety disorders, and explore the joint effects of E-DII scores with other inflammatory lifestyles in enhancing anxiety risk. In the UK Biobank Study of 96,679 participants, baseline E-DII scores were calculated from the average intake of at least two 24 h dietary recalls. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models were used to evaluate the associations between E-DII scores and the incidence of total anxiety disorders, and primary types and subtypes; additive and multiplicative interactions of a pro-inflammatory diet and seven inflammatory lifestyles were examined. After a median follow-up of 9.4 years, 2785 incident cases of anxiety disorders occurred. Consuming a pro-inflammatory diet was significantly associated with a higher risk of total anxiety disorders (HRQ4vsQ1 = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00–1.25), and positive associations were consistently identified for primary types and subtypes of anxiety disorders, with HRs ranging from 1.08 to 1.52, and were present in women only. Both additive and multiplicative interactions of current smoking and a proinflammatory diet on total anxiety risk were identified. A proinflammatory diet was associated with a higher incidence of anxiety disorders, and current smoking may synergize with a proinflammatory diet to promote anxiety risk, particularly among women.

Editorial: Inflammation and chronic disease

“…Various acute and chronic factors can modulate inflammation, including infection, the social and physical environments ( 18 ), lifestyle ( 19 – 21 ), diet ( 22 , 23 ), and physical activity ( 24 – 27 ) ( Figure 1 ). A PubMed search of “chronic inflammation” leads to over 170,000 results, and stalwart medical institutions propose diets targeting chronic inflammation ( 28 , 29 ).…”

The effects of exercise on anxiety symptoms in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

“…Finally, other confounding factors, such as diet and marital satisfaction, that were not included in the study design might play a role in the association between anxiety and GDM. A recent study associates a proin ammatory diet with a higher incidence of anxiety disorders [47], emphasizing the role of diet in the association between anxiety and GDM. Moreover, recent reports suggest that marital satisfaction mediates anxiety symptoms in women with GDM and their partners.…”