Adaptation to the mediterranean diet in healthy perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, investigation of the relationship of dietary total antioxidant capacity with depression , anxiety and stress

This study was designed and conducted to investigate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the total antioxidant capacity of the diet with depression, anxiety, and stress in healthy perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. A total of 203 volunteer female individuals, aged between 35-60 years, including 145 perimenopausal and 58 postmenopausal women, participated in the study. Data were collected through a researcher-prepared questionnaire, which included participants' demographic characteristics, health information, anthropometric measurements (body weight, height), and 24-hour dietary recall. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value was calculated using the BeBIS program. Additionally, participants completed the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS), the Depression Anxiety Stress-21 Scale (DASS-21), and the SF-12 Health Survey. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 25,4 ± 3,7 kg/m², with 29% being menopausal and 71% not menopausal. A MEDAS score of <7 indicates non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet, while a score of ≥7 indicates adherence. The mean MEDAS score of the participants was 5,6 ± 1,54 points. For DASS-21 scoring, the scores of depression, anxiety, and stress questions were separately summed and evaluated based on their score statuses. Scores ranging from 0-14 indicate normal psychological health, while scores of 41 and above indicate severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The participants' mean DASS-21 score was 52 ± 11,91. Scores between 0-100 can be obtained in SF-12 scoring, with higher scores indicating higher quality of life. The mean SF-12 score of the participants was 31,8 ± 5,05. When analyzing participants' dietary intake values, it was found that the intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and vitamin B6 was higher in perimenopausal women compared to postmenopausal women (p<0.05). In this study, it was found that perimenopausal individuals had a higher quality of life, and a one-point increase in SF-12 scores reduced depression, anxiety, and stress levels by 0.581 times. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet did not show a significant difference in depression, anxiety, and stress levels among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (p>0.05). As a result, the adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet and the total antioxidant capacity of the diet did not have a significant effect on depression, anxiety, and stress levels in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.