Genetic Predispositions for Anxiety Disorders and Major Depressive Disorder Affect Current Dietary Habits in Older Patients with Lifestyle-Related Diseases

Background Dietary intake is critical for the prevention and management of physical and mental disorders and may also be influenced by genetic predispositions for anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder (MDD). This study examined the effects of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for anxiety disorders and MDD on current dietary intake in older patients with lifestyle-related diseases. Methods Current dietary intake was assessed across eight categories: miso soup, Japanese tea, green and yellow vegetables, light-colored vegetables, fruits, pickles, meats, and soybeans in 730 older outpatients diagnosed with or suspected of having lifestyle-related diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cancer, at Iwata City Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan, during the recruitment period from 2003 to 2008. PRSs for anxiety disorders and MDD were calculated using large-scale GWAS datasets, and their correlations with dietary intake patterns in these patients were investigated. Furthermore, genetic correlations between these disorders and specific dietary intake were explored in an independent general cohort from the UK Biobank. Results Higher PRSs for anxiety disorders were significantly correlated with increased fruit intake (R2=0.010, p=2.62×10-3) in these patients. Conversely, higher PRSs for MDD were nominally correlated with decreased intake of fruits (R2=0.0056, p=0.021), Japanese tea (R2=0.0069, p=0.014), green vegetables (R2=0.0076, p=7.82×10-3), light-colored vegetables (R2=0.0049, p=0.029), and soybeans (R2=0.0054, p=0.025) and with increased intake of meats (R2=0.0082, p=8.02×10-3). In contrast, in the independent general cohort, both disorders were commonly genetically correlated with decreased fruit intake (anxiety disorders: rg=-0.10, p=2.10×10-3; MDD: rg=-0.17, p=2.01×10-9). Conclusions Our findings suggest that genetic factors related to anxiety disorders may shape dietary habits, potentially influencing compensatory healthy dietary behaviors in response to anxiety and worry related to physical health issues.