The relationship between dietary polyphenol intake and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, mental health, and sleep quality among Turkish adults: A cross-sectional study

A high intake of polyphenols has been shown to benefit health, protect against the risk of mental disorders, and improve sleep quality. This study aimed to determine the relationship between polyphenol intake, sleep quality, depression, stress, and anxiety in Turkish adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted with adults aged 18-64 between December 5, 2023, and May 12, 2024, in Istanbul, Türkiye. Participants completed a questionnaire with demographic characteristics, the Mediterranean Dietary Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and a 7-day food consumption record. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0. One hundred nineteen adults (73.1% female, mean age 23.69 ± 3.76 years) participated. There was a statistically significant difference in MEDAS classification across tertiles of polyphenol intake (p: 0.015). After controlling for confounders, the depression score significantly decreased across tertiles of polyphenol intake (OR: 0.990, p: 0.001). Similar results were observed for the anxiety score (OR: 1.006, p< 0.001). MEDAS scores showed a statistically significant difference across tertiles in unadjusted and all adjusted models (p: 0.049, p: 0.030, p: 0.020, and p: 0.015, respectively). Our findings revealed that dietary polyphenols may have a beneficial effect on depression and anxiety.