The Relationship Between Dairy Food Intake and Psychological Distress Among Iranian Adults: Results From a Large Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study Publisher



Miraghajani M^{1, 2} ; Feizi A^{3, 4, 5} ; Esmaillzadeh A^{6, 7} ; Roohafza H⁴ ; Keshteli AH^{5, 8} ; Adibi P⁵
Source: Journal of Public Health (Germany) Published:2019

Abstract

Aim: Psychological distress is associated with decreased quality of life. The nutritional factor is one of the most important for mental well-being. Subjects and methods: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between dairy food intake and psychological distress. In this cross-sectional study, data on the dietary food intake of 4763 participants were collected using a validated FFQ. Also, the Iranian validated version of the GHQ was used to screen psychological distress. Results: Individuals in the highest tertile of total dairy food intake were less likely to have psychological distress (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70–0.91, P = 0.04) in the final adjusted model. At stratified analysis based on sex, the same findings were obtained only among women. Inversely, individuals in the highest category of high-fat dairy intake had greater odds of suffering from psychological distress (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.07–1.83, P = 0.01). Also, higher intake of high-fat dairy was significantly associated with greater odds of psychological distress among women in models stratified by sex. However, we found a marginally significant inverse association between higher intake of low-fat dairy and psychological distress risk (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.69–1.01, P = 0.07). This association was not significant among men and women in a stratified analysis based on sex. Conclusions: The result showed dairy intake is associated with psychological distress. Further studies are required to confirm these associations. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.