Evaluation of the relationship between dietary carotenoid intake and eating behavior in adult women

This study was planned and conducted to determine the possible relationship between dietary total carotenoid intake and depression and eating behavior in adult women. The research was conducted with 200 volunteer healthy female participants residing in Turkey, with an average age of 38.20 ± 6.13 years (30-50 years) and a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-29.9 kg/m2. It was conducted online. The participants' general eating habits, physical activity status, eating behavior, depression status and anthropometric measurements were recorded and evaluated via an online survey. Participants' daily consumption of food groups, nutrients and total carotenoid intake were calculated using the quantitative food consumption frequency form. The Dutch Eating Behavior Scale (DEBQ) was used to evaluate individuals' eating behavior and the Beck Depression Scale was used to measure the level of depression. The relationship between individuals' depression and eating behavior scores and their descriptive characteristics, anthropometric measurements, physical activity status and nutritional status was evaluated. The average score of the individuals on the Beck Depression Scale was 12.31±7.47; The mean DEBQ subscale scores were found to be 38.18±11.11 for emotional eating, 30.52±7.99 for restrictive eating and 29.38±7.07 for external eating subscale. A significant positive relationship was found between individuals' emotional eating behavior score, external eating score and moderate depression symptoms (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between depression scores and DEBQ subscale scores and age, marital status, education level, occupation and income (p>0.05). The average total carotenoid intake in the diet is 8.75±7,07 mg/day. The average consumption of vegetables and fruits is 527.50±206.90 g/day. There was no significant relationship between DEBQ subscale scores and dietary carotenoid intake (p>0.05). While there was a significant positive relationship between Beck depression scale score and protein, calcium, phosphorus and zinc intake (p<0.05), no significant relationship was found between total carotenoid intake (p>0.05). There was a positive relationship between emotional eating score and carbohydrate and magnesium intake. A significant relationship was found (p<0.05). A significant positive relationship was found between the restrictive eating score and energy, carbohydrate, fiber, potassium, magnesium, iron, thiamine, niacin, monounsaturated fatty acids and total carotenoid intakes (p<0.05). A negative significant relationship was found between the Beck Depression Inventory score and total consumption of milk and dairy products and white meat (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between the Beck Depression Inventory score and total fruit and vegetable consumption (p>0.05). A positive significant relationship was found between the emotional eating subscore and consumption of processed meat products (p<0.05). While there was a significant negative relationship between the restrictive eating sub-score and total consumption of milk and dairy products, yoghurt, ayran, kefir consumption, and total beverage consumption (p<0.05), a significant positive relationship was found between the consumption of dough and milk desserts (p<0, 05). A significant negative relationship was found between the external eating subscore and red meat consumption (p<0.05). There was no relationship between DEBQ subscale scores and fruit and vegetable consumption (p>0.05). It is thought that encouraging a healthy diet pattern in adults with a varied nutritional content and a diet rich in carotenoids may have positive effects on depression, stress and eating behavior. More studies are needed in a large population in different age groups to better understand the relationship between carotenoids and depression and eating behavior. Key words: Beck Depression Scale, eating behavior (DEBQ), depression, dietary carotenoid