Diet-Related Inflammation is Associated with Major Depressive Disorder in Bahraini Adults: Results of a Case-Control Study Using the Dietary Inflammatory Index

• Published in: Journal of inflammation research Vol. 14; pp. 1437 - 1445
• Main Authors: Chen, Wen, Faris, Mo'ez Al-Islam E, Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi, AlGahtani, Haifa MS, Saif, Zahra, Jahrami, Ahmed, Shivappa, Nitin, Hebert, James R, Jahrami, Haitham
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Taylor & Francis Ltd 2021; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: arabian population groups; Body mass index; case-control study; Chronic illnesses; Comorbidity; Data collection; depression; Diet; Disease; Energy; Epidemiology; Food; Inflammation; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mortality; Nutrition research; Oils & fats; Original Research; Software; Vitamins; Bahrain; Arabian population groups; depression; case-control study; inflammation; mental health
• ISSN: 1178-7031; 1178-7031
• DOI: 10.2147/JIR.S306315

This case-control study aimed to examine the association between the inflammation potential of the diet and depression. Ninety-six patients with major depression disorder were matched with 96 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII ) scores were calculated based on the participants' responses to a detailed nutritional assessment using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Descriptive results were reported. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with E-DII scores and depression adjusting for covariates including age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, level of education, and employment. The mean E-DII score of participants in the study was 1.32±1.08, indicating a generally pro-inflammatory diet. Patients with depression had elevated E-DII scores compared to age- and sex-matched controls with E-DII scores of 1.72± 1.09 vs 0.90±0.90, respectively (P=0.001). Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with depression were nearly three times more likely to be in the extreme ends of pro-inflammatory diet (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.82-4.15). Adult Bahraini patients with depression have higher dietary inflammation potential compared to the general population controls. Further research is needed to confirm these results and provide effective interventions to reduce the burden of this dietary inflammation.