Dietary Intake of Beta Cryptoxanthin, but not Other Carotenoids, Is Associated With Less Frequent Anxiety Symptoms in US Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2007 Through 2012.

Background: Oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Carotenoids are a group of liposoluble bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. Few studies have tested associations between intake of carotenoids from dietary sources and anxiety symptoms.

Objective: To assess associations between intake of common dietary carotenoids-alpha carotene, beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin-derived from 2 24-hour recalls and frequency of self-reported anxiety symptoms.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted of the US population from the 2007 through 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

Participants/setting: Nonpregnant adults aged 20 years and older with complete data on dietary intake, frequency of anxiety symptoms, and covariates were included (n = 11 846).

Main outcome measure: Frequency of anxiety symptoms (feeling worried, tense, or anxious during the past 30 days) occurring for ≥75% of the past 30 days (≥23 days) vs less often.

Statistical analyses performed: Multivariable logistic regression estimated associations between intake of each carotenoid, in quartiles, and frequency of anxiety symptoms. Covariates included age, gender, education, marital status, family income-to-poverty ratio, energy intake, smoking, history of hypertension and diabetes, and intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins B6, C, and E, and magnesium.

Results: Intakes in the highest quartile of alpha carotene (odds ratio [OR] 0.69, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.85), beta carotene (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.85), beta cryptoxanthin (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.71), and lutein/zeaxanthin (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.93) were associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms for ≥75% of the past month, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. After adjusting for behavioral and dietary variables, only beta cryptoxanthin intake (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.83) was associated with the frequency of anxiety symptoms. Findings were similar using other thresholds for anxiety symptoms (>50% or 100% of past month).

Conclusions: Among US adults from 2007 through 2012, a higher intake of beta cryptoxanthin was associated with less frequent anxiety symptoms.