Antioxidant vitamin intakes and risk of depression, anxiety and stress among female adolescents

Abstract

Background and aim: The relation of some antioxidant nutrients with psychological disorders has been studied previously. The aim of this study was to examine the association between antioxidant vitamin intakes and the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 263 Tehranian female adolescents. Dietary intakes of vitamin E, C, and β-Carotene were determined using a valid and reliable food-frequency questionnaire. Depression, anxiety, and stress scores were characterized by DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Score-21 items) questionnaire. The multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) of depression, anxiety, and stress across tertiles of antioxidant vitamin intakes.

Results: The mean ± SD age of participants was 16.20 ± 0.97 years. Also, the mean ± SD depression, anxiety and stress scores of participants were 9.89 ± 4.15, 8.43 ± 4.39 and 14.00 ± 6.45, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, subjects in the highest tertile of β-Carotene had a lower prevalence of depression (OR:0.46, 95%CI:0.23-0.95), anxiety (OR:0.40, 95%CI:0.20-0.81), and stress (OR:0.35, 95%CI:0.17-0.73) compared to the lowest tertile (P for trend<0.05). Moreover, individuals in the top tertile of vitamin E had a lower prevalence of stress, in comparison to the bottom tertile (OR:0.34, 95% CI:0.13-0.89), (P for trend<0.05). However, no significant associations were found between the intakes of vitamin E and C and other psychological disorders.

Conclusion: In this study, higher intake of β-Carotene was associated with lower prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress. Also, we found an inverse relationship between vitamin E intake and the risk of stress.

Keywords: Adolescents; Antioxidants; Anxiety; Depression; Stress; Vitamin.