The analysis of the relationship between adults' mental health and the consumption of probiotic nutrients which shows psychobiological characteristics

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between between adults' mental health and the consumption of probiotic nutrients which shows psychobiological characteristics. The study was completed with 121 adults living in the city center of Konya, whose ages ranged from 21 to 59, with 75 female and 46 male. A questionnare form with consisting of 25 questions was applied to the individuals who participated in the study. The questionnare form consisted of 8 sections which are the socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, etc.), probiotic nutrient consumption status, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference), food frequency questionnaire form, 24-hour food consumption record, The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and Satisfaction With Life Scale that developed for the aim of measuring the level of individuals' mental well-being. The average age of women participating in the study was 34,84 ± 10,15 years, while the age of men was 34,47 ± 11,64 years. 68.4% of women consumed probiotic-containing foods, 21.1% did not consume and 10.5% did not know what these foods were, 71.4% of males consumed food containing probiotics, 21.4% did not consume and 7.2% did not know what these foods were. 26,7% of women and 15,2% of men use probiotics as a food supplement, 73,3% of women and 84,8% of men did not use probiotics as a food supplement. There was no significant relationship between the gender of the participants and probiotic use as a food supplement (p> 0.05). According to Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale; the mean score of the women were 50.92 ± 9.45 points and the mean score of men were 51.52 ± 9.36 points. The average scores of the individuals according to the Life Satisfaction Scale were 16.02 ± 4.61 and 14.65 ± 4.99 in males and females, respectively. The mean Warvick-Edinburgh scale point of the participant who used probiotics supplements was 56.19 ± 8.68 and there was no statistically significant relationship between gender and the mean scores (p> 0.05). The mean of Life Satisfaction Scale point of the participant who used probiotics supplements were 18,70 ± 3,73 and there was no statistically significant relationship between gender and mean scores (p>0,05). The mean Warvick-Edinburgh Scale of Life Satisfaction Scale were respectively 49,70 ± 9,12 and 14,59 ± 4,68. The mean Warvick-Edinburgh scale of the individuals consuming probiotic foods were 55,61 ± 8,67 and there was no statistically significant relationship between the gender and the mean scores (p> 0,05). The mean of Life Satisfaction Scale of the individuals consuming probiotic foods were 18,11 ± 4,12 and there was no statistically significant relationship between gender and mean scores (p> 0,05). The mean point Warvick-Edinburgh and Life Satisfaction Scale of the individuals who did not consume probiotic nutrients respectively were 49.26 ± 9.08 and 14.40 ± 4.64, and there was no statistically significant relationship between the gender and two scale means (p>0,05 ). In males, a significant relationship was found between the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and energy, oligosaccharide absorbable, polysaccharide, cellulose, lignin, water-soluble pulp, water-insoluble pulp consumption (p<0,05). In women, there was a significant relationship between Life Satisfaction Scale and fiber, oligosaccharide absorbable and polysaccharide non absorbable consumption (p<0,05). In males, the protein %, fat %, oligosaccharide absorbable and lignin consumption were positively significantly correlated with the Life Satisfaction Scale (p<0,05). The relationship between the total score of the Edinburgh - Edinburgh Mental Well - being Scale and the total score of the Life Satisfaction Scale and total probiotic consumption was found to be significant in both genders (p<0,05). As a result, it was determined that those who consumed probiotic-prebiotic foods or used probiotics as a food supplement achieved higher scores from the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale than the participants who not consumed. It is believed that create awareness studies should be conducted to increase the knowledge level of individuals about prebiotic and probiotic foods. In addition, it is important to carry out larger sample studies investigating the effects of probiotics on mental health.