Association of dietary total antioxidant capacity with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders: A systematic review of observational studies.

Background and aim: We aimed to systematically review observational studies that evaluated the potential association of the dietary total antioxidant capacity (dTAC) with common mental disorders (depression and anxiety) and sleep disorders.

Methods: Studies with an observational design that evaluated the association between the dTAC and common mental disorders and sleep disorders were identified using the PubMed and Scopus databases. The meta-analysis guideline of observational studies in epidemiology and the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis were used to conduct and report the data of this systematic review.

Results: Of the 439 records, seven studies were included in this review. There was a sample variation of 41-3297 participants. We highlight that five of the studies analyzed were conducted in the Iranian population. Four studies analyzed only women, and three studies were conducted with postmenopausal or climacteric women. Four cross-sectional studies showed inverse associations between the dTAC and depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders in Iranians.

Conclusion: The consumption of a diet rich in antioxidants, characterized by high dTAC scores, seems to be inversely associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. However, further studies with different populations and designs are necessary for a better understand this relationship.

Relevance to patients: This review assesses the association of the dTAC with common mental disorders (depression and anxiety) with sleep disorders. This will help guide further studies on the relationship between diet and mental disorders and sleep disorders. Knowledge about these relationships is essential for the creation of non-pharmacological practices for the prevention of these disorders.