Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents

© 2018 Elsevier Inc. Background: Observational studies suggest that dietary patterns may impact mental health outcomes, although biologically plausible pathways are yet to be tested. We aimed to elucidate the longitudinal relationship between dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental heal...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Oddy, W., Allen, K., Trapp, G., Ambrosini, G., Black, Lucinda, Huang, R., Rzehak, P., Runions, K., Pan, F., Beilin, L., Mori, T.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Academic Press 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/65713
_version_ 1848761187861266432
author Oddy, W.
Allen, K.
Trapp, G.
Ambrosini, G.
Black, Lucinda
Huang, R.
Rzehak, P.
Runions, K.
Pan, F.
Beilin, L.
Mori, T.
author_facet Oddy, W.
Allen, K.
Trapp, G.
Ambrosini, G.
Black, Lucinda
Huang, R.
Rzehak, P.
Runions, K.
Pan, F.
Beilin, L.
Mori, T.
author_sort Oddy, W.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Background: Observational studies suggest that dietary patterns may impact mental health outcomes, although biologically plausible pathways are yet to be tested. We aimed to elucidate the longitudinal relationship between dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental health including depressive symptoms in a population-based cohort of adolescents. Methods: Data were provided from 843 adolescents participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study at 14 and 17 years (y) of age. Structural equation modelling was applied to test our hypothesised models relating dietary patterns, energy intake and adiposity (body mass index) at 14 y to adiposity and the pro-inflammatory adipokine (leptin) and inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein - hs-CRP) at 17 y, and these inflammatory markers to depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) and Internalising and Externalising Behavioral Problems (Child Behavior Check List Youth Self- Report) at 17 y. We further tested a reverse hypothesis model, with depression at 14 y as a predictor of dietary patterns at the same time-point. Results: The tested models provided a good fit to the data. A 'Western' dietary pattern (high intake of red meat, takeaway, refined foods, and confectionary) at 14 y was associated with higher energy intake and BMI at 14 y, and with BMI and biomarkers of inflammation at 17 y (all p < .05). A 'Healthy' dietary pattern (high in fruit, vegetables, fish, whole-grains) was inversely associated with BMI and inflammation at 17 y (p < .05). Higher BMI at 14 y was associated with higher BMI (p < .01), leptin (p < .05), hs-CRP (p < .05), depressive symptoms (p < .05) and mental health problems (p < .05), all at 17 y. Conclusion: A 'Western' dietary pattern associates with an increased risk of mental health problems including depressive symptoms in adolescents, through biologically plausible pathways of adiposity and inflammation, whereas a 'Healthy' dietary pattern appears protective in these pathways. Longitudinal modelling into adulthood is indicated to confirm the complex associations of dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental health problems, including depressive symptoms.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T10:27:41Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-65713
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T10:27:41Z
publishDate 2018
publisher Academic Press
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-657132019-01-18T03:32:45Z Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents Oddy, W. Allen, K. Trapp, G. Ambrosini, G. Black, Lucinda Huang, R. Rzehak, P. Runions, K. Pan, F. Beilin, L. Mori, T. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. Background: Observational studies suggest that dietary patterns may impact mental health outcomes, although biologically plausible pathways are yet to be tested. We aimed to elucidate the longitudinal relationship between dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental health including depressive symptoms in a population-based cohort of adolescents. Methods: Data were provided from 843 adolescents participating in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study at 14 and 17 years (y) of age. Structural equation modelling was applied to test our hypothesised models relating dietary patterns, energy intake and adiposity (body mass index) at 14 y to adiposity and the pro-inflammatory adipokine (leptin) and inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein - hs-CRP) at 17 y, and these inflammatory markers to depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) and Internalising and Externalising Behavioral Problems (Child Behavior Check List Youth Self- Report) at 17 y. We further tested a reverse hypothesis model, with depression at 14 y as a predictor of dietary patterns at the same time-point. Results: The tested models provided a good fit to the data. A 'Western' dietary pattern (high intake of red meat, takeaway, refined foods, and confectionary) at 14 y was associated with higher energy intake and BMI at 14 y, and with BMI and biomarkers of inflammation at 17 y (all p < .05). A 'Healthy' dietary pattern (high in fruit, vegetables, fish, whole-grains) was inversely associated with BMI and inflammation at 17 y (p < .05). Higher BMI at 14 y was associated with higher BMI (p < .01), leptin (p < .05), hs-CRP (p < .05), depressive symptoms (p < .05) and mental health problems (p < .05), all at 17 y. Conclusion: A 'Western' dietary pattern associates with an increased risk of mental health problems including depressive symptoms in adolescents, through biologically plausible pathways of adiposity and inflammation, whereas a 'Healthy' dietary pattern appears protective in these pathways. Longitudinal modelling into adulthood is indicated to confirm the complex associations of dietary patterns, adiposity, inflammation and mental health problems, including depressive symptoms. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/65713 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.01.002 Academic Press fulltext
spellingShingle Oddy, W.
Allen, K.
Trapp, G.
Ambrosini, G.
Black, Lucinda
Huang, R.
Rzehak, P.
Runions, K.
Pan, F.
Beilin, L.
Mori, T.
Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents
title Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents
title_full Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents
title_fullStr Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents
title_short Dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: Pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents
title_sort dietary patterns, body mass index and inflammation: pathways to depression and mental health problems in adolescents
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/65713