A recent study published in Nutritional Neuroscience reveals that a healthy diet may reduce the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders. In contrast, those who follow more Westernized or mixed diets may be at higher risk for more severe anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health issues globally, impacting nearly 20% of the population annually. While therapy and medication are common treatments, many individuals continue to experience anxiety, significantly affecting their quality of life. This ongoing challenge has prompted researchers to explore alternative approaches to managing anxiety, such as dietary changes.
Previous research primarily focused on specific nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D, but results were inconsistent. Now, scientists are examining broader dietary patterns to better understand how food choices may influence mental health.
This study sought to determine how different diets specifically impact anxiety disorders rather than general mental health. The research was conducted in Iran, a country with a diverse culinary culture, providing a rich background for the study.
The researchers used a case-control design to compare the diets of individuals with anxiety disorders to those without. The study, conducted in Tehran between 2021 and 2022, involved 255 participants—85 with diagnosed anxiety disorders and 170 healthy individuals.
Psychiatrists diagnosed participants in the anxiety group using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The severity of their anxiety was measured with the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, a standard tool for assessing anxiety intensity.
To gather information on participants’ diets, researchers used a food frequency questionnaire tailored to the Iranian population. This questionnaire asked participants to recall their consumption of 147 different foods over the past year. The researchers then applied principal component analysis, a statistical method, to identify three main dietary patterns: “healthy,” “Western,” and “mixed.”
The healthy diet was high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and low-fat dairy. The Western diet featured red and processed meats, sugary snacks, fast food, and refined grains. The mixed diet combined elements from both the healthy and Western patterns.
The findings showed that people who adhered to a healthy diet were less likely to develop anxiety disorders. In fact, those who closely followed a healthy eating pattern had a 74% lower likelihood of experiencing an anxiety disorder compared to those who did not. Additionally, a healthy diet was linked to lower anxiety severity scores, meaning participants experienced less intense anxiety symptoms.
On the other hand, adherence to Western and mixed diets was associated with higher anxiety severity scores, suggesting that these dietary patterns may worsen anxiety symptoms.
The researchers accounted for several factors—such as age, gender, energy intake, marital status, education, medication use, and more—to isolate the impact of diet on anxiety.
Despite its findings, the study had limitations. Because the research relied on self-reported data, participants may have misremembered or inaccurately reported their dietary habits. Moreover, the study only demonstrates an association between diet and anxiety; it cannot prove causality. It is possible that anxiety could lead to changes in eating habits, rather than the diet causing anxiety.
