Dietary Intake and Risk of Depression Among Male and Female with HIV/AIDS

Purpose: Depression is the most common mental disorder among subjects with HIV. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between dietary intake and depression among male and female with HIV/AIDS.

Methods: 335 HIV/AIDS subjects were evaluated who referred to Behavioral Disorders Counseling Center in Kermanshah, province in Iran. Depression was assessed using Beck questionnaire. Food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake.

Results: Our findings indicated that 76.1% of the studied subjects had varying degrees of depression. The rate of depression in the men was significantly higher than in the women (P = 0.007). The mean of weight in the men with depression was significantly lower than of the men without depression (P = 0.01). Higher adhere to legume and vegetables in the men (OR 0.049, CI 95% 0.003-0.713 and OR 0.534, CI 95% 0.334-0.855, respectively) and dairy products in the women (OR 0.493, CI 95% 0.265-0.917) were associated with decrease risk of depression.

Conclusion: The results of this study were shown that the high prevalence of depression among these subjects. Higher intake of legume and vegetables and dairy products had a protective effect on the risk of depression.

Level Of Evidence: Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.