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The association of whole and refined grains consumption with psychological disorders among Iranian adults

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Abstract

Purpose

Although several studies have examined the link between different types of carbohydrate consumption and depression and anxiety, limited data are available linking whole and refined grains consumption to psychological disorders. We aimed to investigate the association of whole and refined grains consumption with psychological disorders among Iranian adults.

Methods

A total of 3172 adult people with age range of 18–55 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Data on grains consumption were collected using a validated dish-based 106-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. To assess depression and anxiety, Iranian validated version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was applied. Furthermore, psychological distress was examined using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Psychological disorders were defined based on standard criteria.

Results

Mean age of participants was 36.5 ± 7.9 years. Women in the third quartile of whole grains consumption had lower odds for having anxiety (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45–0.85) compared with those in the first quartile. This relationship was also seen even after controlling for potential confounders (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44–0.96). In contrast, compared with the first quartile, women in the highest quartile of refined grains consumption had greater odds to have depression (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.00–3.09) and anxiety (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.00–4.10) after adjusting for covariates. Such relationships were not observed among men.

Conclusion

Moderate consumption of whole grain foods was inversely associated with anxiety in women, but not in men. Furthermore, we found a significant positive association between refined grains consumption, depression and anxiety in women.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Dr. Ahmad Esmaillzadeh was supported by a grant from Iran National Science Foundation (INSF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Students’ Scientific Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Omid Sadeghi

  2. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6117, Iran

    Omid Sadeghi & Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Ammar Hassanzadeh-Keshteli

  4. Psychosomatic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Hamid Afshar

  5. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular, Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  6. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  7. Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Peyman Adibi

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  1. Omid Sadeghi
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  2. Ammar Hassanzadeh-Keshteli
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  3. Hamid Afshar
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  4. Ahmad Esmaillzadeh
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  5. Peyman Adibi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmad Esmaillzadeh.

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Ethics

All participants provided signed informed written consent forms. The Bioethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran approved the study [29].

Conflict of interest

Authors declared no personal or financial conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Ammar Hassanzadeh-Keshteli: Co-first author.

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Sadeghi, O., Hassanzadeh-Keshteli, A., Afshar, H. et al. The association of whole and refined grains consumption with psychological disorders among Iranian adults. Eur J Nutr 58, 211–225 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1585-x

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