Diet-Related Inflammation is Associated with Major Depressive Disorder in Bahraini Adults: Results of a Case-Control Study Using the Dietary Inflammatory Index

PURPOSE: This case-control study aimed to examine the association between the inflammation potential of the diet and depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with major depression disorder were matched with 96 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII(TM)) scores were calculated based on the participants’ responses to a detailed nutritional assessment using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Descriptive results were reported. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with E-DII scores and depression adjusting for covariates including age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, level of education, and employment. RESULTS: The mean E-DII score of participants in the study was 1.32±1.08, indicating a generally pro-inflammatory diet. Patients with depression had elevated E-DII scores compared to age- and sex-matched controls with E-DII scores of 1.72± 1.09 vs 0.90±0.90, respectively (P=0.001). Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with depression were nearly three times more likely to be in the extreme ends of pro-inflammatory diet (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.82–4.15). CONCLUSION: Adult Bahraini patients with depression have higher dietary inflammation potential compared to the general population controls. Further research is needed to confirm these results and provide effective interventions to reduce the burden of this dietary inflammation.