Cross-sectional studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-CHK-105 standard review
White meat was not linked to anxiety in Iranian adults
Red and White Meat Intake in Relation to Mental Disorders in Iranian Adults.
Overview
Kazemi S et al.. Front Nutr 2021 · PMID 34386515 · DOI 10.3389/fnut.2021.710555
In 3,362 Iranian adults, eating more white meat was not linked to anxiety or depression.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Are red and white meat intakes associated with depression, anxiety and psychological distress?
- How was the study done?
Cross-sectional study with FFQ, HADS and GHQ
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
3,362
- What was actually found?
White meat intake was not associated with mental disorders overall. In overweight/obese participants, high white meat intake was associated with lower odds of psychological distress (OR 0.64; 0.42-0.99) and depression (OR 0.68; 0.45-1.00). Red meat top quartile: depression OR 1.43 (1.09-1.89).
- How large was the observed effect?
White meat intake was not associated with mental disorders overall. In overweight/obese participants, high white meat intake was associated with lower odds of psychological distress (OR 0.64; 0.42-0.99) and depression (OR 0.68; 0.45-1.00). Red meat top quartile: depression OR 1.43 (1.09-1.89).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
No sign that poultry eaters have more anxiety.
- What are the study's limitations?
Cross-sectional; reverse causation possible; White meat includes fish; Subgroup findings, multiple testing
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Indirect contradiction; does not measure panic attacks, nightmares or hallucinations.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Regional (Iran); limited transfer.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot prove absence of an effect; cross-sectional.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Kazemi S et al.
- Journal
- Front Nutr
- Year
- 2021
- Identifier
- PMID 34386515 DOI 10.3389/fnut.2021.710555
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
Are red and white meat intakes associated with depression, anxiety and psychological distress?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Cross-sectional study – Cross-sectional study with FFQ, HADS and GHQ
- Population
Adults aged 18-55 y, Isfahan (Iran)
- Country
Iran
- Period
not stated in abstract
- Sample size
3,362
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
as described in the abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
White meat (poultry/fish) intake quartiles
- Comparator
Lowest quartile
- Endpoints
Symptoms of depression, anxiety (HADS), psychological distress (GHQ)
- Statistical methods
as reported in the abstract
5. Actual results
- Results
White meat intake was not associated with mental disorders overall. In overweight/obese participants, high white meat intake was associated with lower odds of psychological distress (OR 0.64; 0.42-0.99) and depression (OR 0.68; 0.45-1.00). Red meat top quartile: depression OR 1.43 (1.09-1.89).
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Red meat was associated with depression symptoms; white meat was inversely associated with distress in overweight/obese participants.
6. Strengths
- Middle-East population
- Validated instruments
7. Weaknesses
- Cross-sectional; reverse causation possible
- White meat includes fish
- Subgroup findings, multiple testing
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- ROBINS-E
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- high
- Rationale
Cross-sectional design; subgroup analyses.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Null overall for white meat and anxiety; subgroup inverse associations are exploratory.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Only located study relating white meat intake to anxiety symptoms in a Middle-East population.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
13. Overall methodological judgement
In 3,362 Iranian adults, eating more white meat was not linked to anxiety or depression.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | high |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | indirect |
| Reproducibility | unknown |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |