Dietary exposures and common mental illness in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA): a cohort-level GLAD project analysis

Abstract Background Worldwide, common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are major contributors to disability. However, the role of diet as a risk factor for anxiety and depression remains underexplored. Therefore, we investigated the associations between food groups and major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders, following a harmonized protocol to enable integration of studies. Methods We analysed data from 1,634 participants in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety to examine cross-sectional associations between 14 dietary exposures—derived from a 238-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, milk, red meat, processed meat, sweet drinks, fibre, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and trans fats)—and anxiety and depressive disorders in the past month (assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview). Secondary outcomes were depressive symptoms (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology score ≥13 vs.