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Drinking plain water is associated with decreased risk of depression and anxiety in adults: Results from a large cross-sectional study
Plain water consumption is associated with decreased risk of depression and anxiety in adults
The purpose of this study by Haghighatdoost et al. (2018) was to investigate the association between the consumption of plain water and the likelihood of anxiety and depression in a sizable population of Iranian individuals. 3,327 Iranian people participated in a cross-sectional survey. To assess the participants’ anxiety and depression levels, the authors employed a validated Iranian version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Participants reported their daily water intake, which was categorized into three groups: less than two glasses, 2–5 glasses, and five or more glasses per day. First, those who drank less than two glasses of water per day were twice as likely to experience anxiety and despair as people who drank five or more glasses. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, the link between low water intake and depression, but not anxiety, remained significant. When analyzed by gender, low water intake was associated with a 73% increased risk of depression in men and a 54% increase in women. However, no significant link to anxiety was found in either group. The study identified an inverse relationship between water intake and depression, and a non-significant trend linking low water intake with anxiety. These results suggest a need for future clinical and longitudinal research to further explore the potential role of water in mental health. [NPID: Water, anxiety, depression, psychological disorders, Iranian]
Year: 2018
