Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults

Abstract Background No earlier study has examined the association between dairy intake and prevalence of depression and anxiety in Middle Eastern population. Objective This cross-sectional study was done to investigate the association between consumption of total dairy intake and prevalence of depre...

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Main Authors: Maryam Mofidi-Nejad, Alireza Milajerdi, Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli, Hamid Afshar, Peyman Adibi, Alireza Khadem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00974-4
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author Maryam Mofidi-Nejad
Alireza Milajerdi
Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli
Hamid Afshar
Peyman Adibi
Alireza Khadem
author_facet Maryam Mofidi-Nejad
Alireza Milajerdi
Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli
Hamid Afshar
Peyman Adibi
Alireza Khadem
author_sort Maryam Mofidi-Nejad
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background No earlier study has examined the association between dairy intake and prevalence of depression and anxiety in Middle Eastern population. Objective This cross-sectional study was done to investigate the association between consumption of total dairy intake and prevalence of depression and anxiety in a large group of adult population in Isfahan, Iran. Methods Dairy intake was assessed for 3362 participants using a validated 106-item Willet-format dish-based semi-quantitative FFQ. A validated questionnaire of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to examine depression and anxiety. We defined scores of > 8 as depressed and anxious people in this analysis. Information about covariates were collected using pre-tested questionnaires. Results Mean age of study population was 36.2, 58.3% of them were females. Participants in the highest quintile of dairy intake had a 40% lower chance for depression compared to those in the lowest quintile (OR = 0.60; 95%CI 0.47–0.76, Ptrend = 0.001) in crude model. This association remained significant after controlling for several confounders (0.57; 95%CI 0.40–0.80 Ptrend = 0.02). Although we observed a significant association between dairy intake and anxiety in crude model (OR: 0.63; 95%CI 0.46–0.87, Ptrend = 0.02), the association was not significant when we took into account potential confounders (0.63; 95%CI 0.39–1.00). Conclusion We found an inverse association between consumption of dairy products and depression but the results for anxiety were not significant. Further studies, in particular of prospective nature, are recommended to confirm our findings.
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spelling doaj-art-806bc7799fbb4186ac16fb256fca71502025-08-20T03:45:57ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152025-07-014411810.1186/s41043-025-00974-4Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adultsMaryam Mofidi-Nejad0Alireza Milajerdi1Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli2Hamid Afshar3Peyman Adibi4Alireza Khadem5Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medicine, Niversity of AlbertaPsychosomatic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahan Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background No earlier study has examined the association between dairy intake and prevalence of depression and anxiety in Middle Eastern population. Objective This cross-sectional study was done to investigate the association between consumption of total dairy intake and prevalence of depression and anxiety in a large group of adult population in Isfahan, Iran. Methods Dairy intake was assessed for 3362 participants using a validated 106-item Willet-format dish-based semi-quantitative FFQ. A validated questionnaire of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to examine depression and anxiety. We defined scores of > 8 as depressed and anxious people in this analysis. Information about covariates were collected using pre-tested questionnaires. Results Mean age of study population was 36.2, 58.3% of them were females. Participants in the highest quintile of dairy intake had a 40% lower chance for depression compared to those in the lowest quintile (OR = 0.60; 95%CI 0.47–0.76, Ptrend = 0.001) in crude model. This association remained significant after controlling for several confounders (0.57; 95%CI 0.40–0.80 Ptrend = 0.02). Although we observed a significant association between dairy intake and anxiety in crude model (OR: 0.63; 95%CI 0.46–0.87, Ptrend = 0.02), the association was not significant when we took into account potential confounders (0.63; 95%CI 0.39–1.00). Conclusion We found an inverse association between consumption of dairy products and depression but the results for anxiety were not significant. Further studies, in particular of prospective nature, are recommended to confirm our findings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00974-4DietDairyDepressionAnxietyPsychological heathCross-sectional
spellingShingle Maryam Mofidi-Nejad
Alireza Milajerdi
Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli
Hamid Afshar
Peyman Adibi
Alireza Khadem
Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Diet
Dairy
Depression
Anxiety
Psychological heath
Cross-sectional
title Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults
title_full Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults
title_fullStr Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults
title_full_unstemmed Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults
title_short Consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults
title_sort consumption of dairy products and prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults
topic Diet
Dairy
Depression
Anxiety
Psychological heath
Cross-sectional
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00974-4
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