Abstract
Background: The relationship between anxiety and dietary fat quality (DFQ) has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety disorder and fatty acids’ intake in women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 300 women aged 18-49 attending healthcare centers. Dietary exposure was measured by a 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). To determine the status of anxiety, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) questionnaire was used. Based on the total score of anxiety, the participants were divided into two groups of without anxiety (< 8) and with anxiety (≥ 8). The relationship between fatty acids intake and odd ratio (OR) for anxiety was analyzed by simple logistic regression. Results: About 37.7% of individuals reported anxiety. After adjustment for covariates, an increase in the OR for anxiety was observed across the quintuples of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (OR 3.17; 95% CI 1.43-7.00; p-trend = 0.005). In addition, higher intakes of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.05-0.44; p-trend = 0.001), oleic acid (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.09-0.67; p-trend = 0.002), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (OR 0.07; 95% CI 0.02-0.23; p-trend < 0.001), and n-3:n-6 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.24-1.03; p-trend = 0.02) were found to be related with lower OR of anxiety. Conclusion: Intake of SFAs was positively related to anxiety disorder, whereas MUFAs, oleic acid, ALA, and n-3: n-6 PUFAs intake were inversely related to anxiety score. For investigating the association of fat intake and anxiety disorder, DFQ may be a useful measure.
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Key Points
Few studies have investigated the association between dietary fat quality (DFQ) and anxiety disorder. Some studies have focused on the consumption of n-3 PUFAs such as docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), EPA, DHA, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and their association with anxiety disorder. The results showed an inverse association between intake of these fatty acids and anxiety in adults. Pure anxiety is generalized anxiety disorder without depression and stress.
In the present study, the relationship between anxiety disorder and DFQ in women was investigated. The result of this study suggested that higher intake of SFAs was associated with increased anxiety score. In addition, intake of MUFAs, oleic acid, ALA, and n-3: n-6 PUFAs ratio was associated with lower odds of anxiety. This study showed no significant association between intake of DHA, EPA, n-6 PUFAs, cholesterol, and total fat with anxiety disorder.
Based on the results of the present study, an inverse association was found between intakes of MUFAs, oleic acid, ALA, and n-3:n-6 PUFAs ratio with odds of anxiety. In addition, higher intake of SFAs was associated with higher anxiety score. The study analysis showed that overall DFQ may be important in anxiety disorder. These results may help to develop nutritional interventions and dietary guidelines to prevent or reduce anxiety in women.