PP414 - ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DIETARY INFLAMMATORY INDEX, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS: A PILOT STUDY

PP414

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DIETARY INFLAMMATORY INDEX, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS: A PILOT STUDY

S. G. Yılmaz Kocaman¹, S. Önal², M. Altan², H. Kocaman^3,*

¹Nutrition and Dietetics, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, ²Nutrition and Dietetics, Fırat University, Elazığ, ³Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, Türkiye

Rationale: Chronic low-grade inflammation is linked to mental health disorders. Diet and physical activity may influence inflammation and psychological well-being. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) quantifies the inflammatory potential of diet. This study examined associations of DII and activity with depression, anxiety, and stress.

Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study included 196 female university students aged 18–25 years. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Physical activity was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Dietary intake was analyzed using BEBIS, and DII scores were calculated using coefficients described by Shivappa et al. Participants were grouped by DII quartiles and activity level. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Mean BMI was 22.8 ± 3.46 kg/m². BMI was not associated with total DASS-21 scores (p=0.418). Higher DII quartiles were associated with higher anxiety scores (p=0.002), while depression and stress showed non-significant upward trends (p=0.094 and p=0.121). Total DASS-21 scores did not differ across DII quartiles (p=0.337). Compared with sedentary participants, non-sedentary participants had lower DII scores (p=0.003), lower BMI (p=0.001), lower total DASS-21 scores (p=0.030), and lower depression (p=0.020), anxiety (p=0.010), and stress scores (p=0.001).

Conclusion: Anthropometric measurements were not associated with mental health scores. Higher dietary inflammatory potential was associated with higher anxiety. Non-sedentary participants showed lower DII scores, lower BMI, and lower total and subscale DASS-21 scores than sedentary participants.

References: Shivappa N., et al. (2014). Designing and developing a literature-derived, population-based dietary inflammatory index. Public health nutrition, 17(8),1689-1696.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared