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Published Online: 1 March 2010

Association of Western and Traditional Diets With Depression and Anxiety in Women

Felice N. Jacka, Ph.D., Julie A. Pasco, Ph.D., Arnstein Mykletun, Ph.D., Lana J. Williams, Ph.D., Allison M. Hodge, Ph.D., Sharleen Linette O'Reilly, Ph.D., Geoffrey C. Nicholson, M.D., Ph.D., Mark A. Kotowicz, M.D., and Michael Berk, M.D., Ph.D.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 167, Number 3
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09060881
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Abstract

Objective

Key biological factors that influence the development of depression are modified by diet. This study examined the extent to which the high-prevalence mental disorders are related to habitual diet in 1,046 women ages 20–93 years randomly selected from the population.

Method

A diet quality score was derived from answers to a food frequency questionnaire, and a factor analysis identified habitual dietary patterns. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure psychological symptoms, and a structured clinical interview was used to assess current depressive and anxiety disorders.

Results

After adjustments for age, socioeconomic status, education, and health behaviors, a "traditional" dietary pattern characterized by vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and whole grains was associated with lower odds for major depression or dysthymia and for anxiety disorders. A "western" diet of processed or fried foods, refined grains, sugary products, and beer was associated with a higher GHQ-12 score. There was also an inverse association between diet quality score and GHQ-12 score that was not confounded by age, socioeconomic status, education, or other health behaviors.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate an association between habitual diet quality and the high-prevalence mental disorders, although reverse causality and confounding cannot be ruled out as explanations. Further prospective studies are warranted.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
American Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 167 • Number 3 • March 2010
Pages: 305 - 311
PubMed: 20048020

History

Received: 24 June 2009
Accepted: 5 October 2009
Published online: 1 March 2010
Published in print: March 2010

Authors

Affiliations

Felice N. Jacka, Ph.D.
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Arnstein Mykletun, Ph.D.
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Lana J. Williams, Ph.D.
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Allison M. Hodge, Ph.D.
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Sharleen Linette O'Reilly, Ph.D.
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Geoffrey C. Nicholson, M.D., Ph.D.
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Mark A. Kotowicz, M.D.
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Michael Berk, M.D., Ph.D.
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Notes

Presented at the 2008 annual conference of the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research, Newcastle, Dec. 2–5, 2008; at the 2009 International Congress of the World Psychiatric Association, Florence, April 1–4, 2009; and at the 12th International Congress of the International Federation for Psychiatric Epidemiology, Vienna, April 16–18, 2009. Received June 24, 2009; revision received Sept. 7, 2009; accepted Oct. 5, 2009. From the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jacka, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, Barwon Health Kitchener House, Ryrie Street, Geelong 3220, Australia; [email protected] (e-mail).

Competing Interests

Dr. Jacka has received travel funding from Sanofi-Synthelabo Australia and Organon and research support from an unrestricted educational support from Eli Lilly. Drs. Pasco and Williams have received research support from an unrestricted educational support from Eli Lilly. Dr. Berk has received research support from the Stanley Medical Research Foundation, MBF, National Health and Medical Research Council, Beyond Blue, Geelong Medical Research Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Mayne Pharma, Novartis, Organon, and Servier; he has received speaking fees from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Sanofi-Synthelabo, Servier, Solvay, and Wyeth; and he has served as a consultant to AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, and Servier. The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Funding Information

Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (project grant 454356), an unrestricted educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company, and by postgraduate scholarships from the University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences and the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund to Dr. Jacka and Dr. Williams.

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