A healthy diet may reduce the risk of severe depression, according to a study of more than 2,000 men conducted at the University of Eastern Finland. In addition, weight loss in the context of a lifestyle intervention was associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms.
Depressed individuals often have a poor quality of diet and decreased intake of nutrients. However, it has been unclear whether the diet and the intake of foods and nutrients are associated with the risk of depression in healthy individuals.
A healthy diet characterized by vegetables, fruits, berries, whole-grains, poultry, fish and low-fat cheese was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms and a lower risk of depression during the follow-up period.
Increased intake of folate (a B vitamin) was also associated with a decreased risk of depression. Cooked spinach, broccoli, asparagus, lentils, black beans, avocado and oranges are good sources of folate. In addition, increased coffee consumption linked to a decreased risk of depression.
Furthermore, a reduction in the body weight was associated with a greater reduction in depressive symptoms.
Adherence to an unhealthy diet characterized by a high consumption of sausages, processed meats, sugar-containing desserts and snacks, sugary drinks, manufactured foods, French rolls and baked or processed potatoes was associated with an increased prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms.
Contrary to earlier observations, vitamin B12 intake, blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the blood, tea drinking and total caffeine intake were not related to the risk of depression in this study.
The study was based on the population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor (KIHD) Study. The participants, over 2,000 middle-aged or older Finnish men were followed-up for an average of 13-20 years. Their diet was measured by food records and food frequency questionnaires, and information on cases of depression was obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Register. The effects of the three-year lifestyle intervention on depressive symptoms were investigated in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS) with 140 middle-aged men and women randomized to intervention and control groups.
Access the study at: http://epublications.uef.fi/pub/urn_isbn_978-952-61-1201-5/urn_isbn_978-952-61-1201-5.pdf
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