Dietary total anti-oxidant capacity is inversely related to the prevalence of depression in adolescent girls

Abstract

Background Oxidative stress is considered to be a contributory factor for depression, and is affected by the dietary intake of pro-and anti-oxidants. Dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) is an index which is applied to estimate the cumulative power of antioxidants in the whole diet. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between DTAC and prevalence of depression in adolescent girls. Methods A total of 741 Iranian adolescent girls aged 12–18 years were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Dietary intake and depression severity score were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and Beck's depression inventory, respectively. To estimate the DTAC, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity method was used for selected foods. To explore the associations between DTAC and depression, logistic regression was applied using crude and adjusted models. Results Individuals in the greatest adherence to high DTAC had more intakes of whole grains, legumes, fruits, dried fruits, low fat dairy products, cruciferous vegetables, fiber, magnesium, vitamin C, folate, potassium, zinc, β-carotene, lutein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B-6 and lower consumption of refined grains. Subjects in the highest quartile of DTAC had a 39% lower odds of depression compared to those in the first quartile (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38–0.97, P for trend = 0.012); these associations remained significant after adjustments in first, second and third (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.28–0.92, P for trend < 0.001) adjusted models. Conclusions An inverse association was observed between the DTAC and the prevalence of depression in our population sample of adolescent girls. Further research needs to be conducted in different areas, including longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes.

Major Depressive Disorder and Oxidative Stress: A Review of Peripheral and Genetic Biomarkers According to Clinical Characteristics and Disease Stages

“…Data also suggest that lifestyle interventions improve depressive symptoms [ 130 ]. For example, diets with high antioxidant capacity were associated with a lower prevalence of depression [ 131 ]. Additionally, some mitochondrial modulators appear to be effective in the management of depression, notably in reestablishing the redox balance [ 132 , 133 ].…”

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Neuroprotective Effects of Polyphenols—Polyphenols as an Element of Diet Therapy in Depressive Disorders

“…A relationship has been shown between the way people eat and the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress disorders [125][126][127]. The total antioxidant capacity of the diet consumed is inversely correlated with depression and some biomarkers of oxidative stress in menopausal, postmenopausal, and diabetic women [128][129][130], as well as in young women and girls [131][132][133]. The study by de Oliveira et al [130] performed in Brazil showed that depressed women consumed fewer polyphenols than healthy women, which may indicate the importance of this group of food ingredients in the prevention of depressive disorders.…”