Association of Dietary Habits with Psychosocial Outcomes in Women with Fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus Project

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex multidimensional disorder with pain as its main symptom. Fibromyalgia imposes a psychosocial burden on individuals that negatively impacts quality of life. The relationship of dietary habits with these psychosocial aspects is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess dietary habits in a representative sample of women with FM and to explore their association with mental health, depression, and optimism in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2011 and January 2013. PARTICIPANTS: The study sample comprised 486 women (ages 35 to 65 years) with FM from Andalucía (southern Spain). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mental health, depression, and optimism were evaluated by means of the mental component scale of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the Life Orientation Test Revised, respectively. A short form of a validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Analysis of covariance was used to assess associations between dietary habits and mental health, depression, and optimism. The presence of severe depression (BDI-II ≥29) as a function of dietary habits was examined with logistic regression. RESULTS: A daily or almost-daily consumption of fruit and vegetables and a moderate consumption of fish (2 to 5 servings per week) were associated with higher scores in mental health (P<0.001, P<0.05, and P<0.001, respectively) and lower levels of depression (P<0.001, P<0.01, and P<0.01, respectively). A daily or almost-daily consumption of vegetables and a moderate consumption of dairy products and fish were associated with higher levels of optimism (P<0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.001, respectively). A daily or almost-daily consumption of cured meats and sweetened beverages were associated with higher levels of depression and lower levels of optimism, respectively (both P