Nutritional upgrade: Changes to diet may address depression: Study
There is now extensive observational evidence - across countries and age groups - supporting the contention that diet quality is a possible risk or protective factor for depression. Now, a clinical trial has taken that evidence to a new level.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
This landmark study is the first to investigate the effects of dietary changes on depression (rather than supplementation with specific nutrients) using a randomised controlled trial design - considered the 'gold standard' for assessing cause and effect.Significant benefits were found in reducing depressive symptoms in young women who followed a 'Mediterranean-type' diet for 3 months, compared with a control group who received general support, but no dietary intervention.
As with any trial involving actual diet, the trial could not be double-blinded (as people can't be prevented from knowing what they are eating..) Likewise, numbers were fairly small, and as always, there were some methodological limitations - so of course, replication studies are still needed.
Meanwhile, however, the success of this trial represents a very important step in providing the kind of 'hard evidence' needed for medically-trained and other healthcare professionals - and hopefully public health authorities - to take the role of nutrition in mental health more seriously. Which makes it an extremely important study.
Dietary changes of the kind that this study involved already have well-documented benefits to physical health - including cardiovascular and general brain health. This new evidence - showing they might also help to reduce symptoms of depression - deserves serious attention from not just healthcare professionals, but anyone interested in new approaches to improving mental health and wellbeing.
For details of this research see:
For other studies reporting benefits of a 'Mediterranean'type' diet, see:
See also:
Tweaks to a diet’s nutritional make-up may provide an effective strategy for depression, says a study detailing extended benefits towards the management of associated disorders.
Eating more vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, fish, lean red meats, olive oil and nuts, led to a significant reduction in depressive symptoms over a three-month period, said investigators.
At the end of the investigation, a third of subjects in the dietary support group met the definitions of depression remission, compared to 8% of subjects in the social support cohort.
"These results were not explained by changes in physical activity or body weight, but were closely related to the extent of dietary change," said Professor Felice Jacka, director of Deakin's Food and Mood Centre at Deakins University in Australia.
"Those who adhered more closely to the dietary program experienced the greatest benefit to their depression symptoms."
The study’s positive implications also included the physical illnesses that were associated with depression, which are both a cause and consequence of the mental disorder.
"Importantly, depression also increases the risk of and, in turn, is also increased by common physical illnesses such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease,” said Professor Jacka.
“Moreover, behavioural changes associated with food (cooking/shopping/meal patterns) are an expected outcome of a nutrition intervention, and these changes in activity may also have had a therapeutic benefit,” the study added.
Although a ‘healthy diet’ is open to interpretation according to the country and culture, general consensus suggests diets rich in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, coupled with lean proteins like fish, are linked to a lower risk for depression.
A Mediterranean diet— strongly associated with these food components—has been linked with a 30% reduced risk for depression as well as chronic disease .
Nutritional supplements have also shown usefulness in psychiatric disorders, although the bulk of research has been limited to animal studies and observational studies in humans.
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