Substituting whole grains for refined grains and risk of developing psychological disorders in Iranian adults: YaHS and TAMYZ studies

Abstract

Background & aims: To examine the association between dietary whole and refined grains and their replacement and psychological disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on the recruitment phase of YaHS-TAMYZ prospective study (Yazd, Iran). Data on demographic characteristics, dietary intakes, and potential confounders were gathered by interview. Psychological disorders were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21) questionnaire. The link between dietary total grains, whole grains, refined grains, and their replacement and psychological disorders were studied using multivariable logistic regression. The non-linear dose–response associations were checked using a restricted cubic spline model. Results: A total of 7574 adults aged from 20 to 70 participated in this study. After adjustment for all potential confounders, participants with highest whole grains consumption had lower odds of depression (OR = 0.86; 95 CI: 0.74–1.01, p for trend = 0.04) and anxiety (OR = 0.80; 95 CI: 0.69–0.92, p for trend = 0.001) compared to those with lowest intake. Substitution of one serving of whole grain with one serving of refined grain significantly reduced the likelihood of anxiety (OR: 0.94; 95 CI: 0.89–1.00, p for trend = 0.05) and significantly increased the likelihood of stress (OR: 1.05; 95 CI: 1.00–1.10, p for trend = 0.02). Conclusion: Whole grains intake might reduce the odds of depression and anxiety. Substitution of whole grains with refined grains might also lead to a reduction in odds of depression while increasing the odds of stress. Future prospective investigations are needed to confirm these findings. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.