Dietary total antioxidant capacity as a preventive factor against depression in climacteric women

Depression is characterized by physical or psychological distress and in many cases can lead to suicide. OBJECTIVE: to assess the prevalence of depression and its possible relationship with dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and nutritional parameters in climacteric women participating in an extension university program in a Southern Brazilian city. METHODS: data were obtained through questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Diet was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess the intensity of symptoms of depression. RESULTS: DTAC of the population ranged from 435.60 to 4502.62 mg VCE/day. Among the most consumed antioxidant food/beverages, coffee ranked highest. Polyphenols were found to be directly linked to the antioxidant capacity of fresh foods (r=0.905; p=0.0001). Prevalence of depression in the population was 44%, and depressed women had lower intake levels of polyphenols (p=0.022; Cohen's d=0.80), and vitamin B6 (p=0.038; Cohen's d=0.65), vitamin A (p=0.044; Cohen's d =0.63), and vitamin C (p=0.050; Cohen's d =0.61). There was a significant negative correlation between BDI scores and polyphenol intake (r=-0.700; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: these results may contribute to a better understanding of the recommended dietary antioxidant intake as an adjuvant for preventing depression in women.