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The association between FODMAPs intake and psychological disorders in a large sample of Iranian adults
Although limited and inconsistent, research on the link between FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) and psychological conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress is gaining interest. This study by Motallaei et al. (2025) examined the relationship between FODMAPs intake and mental health among Iranian adults. Using baseline data from the YaHS-TAMYZ cohort in Yazd, Iran, researchers assessed dietary habits with a culturally validated food frequency questionnaire. Psychological status was measured using the DASS-21 scale for depression, anxiety, and stress. Both crude and adjusted statistical models were applied to assess the associations. Among 7,574 participants, higher overall FODMAPs and fructose intake were linked with lower depression scores after adjusting for age, sex, and other factors. Higher lactose consumption was also associated with lower depression and anxiety scores. Additionally, moderate fructan intake correlated with reduced depression and anxiety, while moderate polyol intake was tied to lower stress levels. Further analysis did not find a significant difference in the odds of psychological disorders between the highest and lowest FODMAPs consumers, except for fructans, where higher fructan intake was linked to lower incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Overall, higher FODMAPs—particularly fructans—were associated with better mental health outcomes, though further longitudinal studies are needed to support these findings. [NPID: Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, polyols, FODMAPs, depression, anxiety, stress]
Year: 2025
