Depression and Diet…a Link to Explore

Depression and Diet…a Link to Explore

According to a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adherence to the Mediterranean/ low Glyceamic diet is associated with a decreased risk of depression in women. Depression affects women 2x as much as men.

Investigators evaluated over 16 thousand women of menopausal years over a 3 year period of time. Depressive symptoms were evaluated at the beginning of the study and again after three years using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale.

The researchers found that a higher consumption of a Mediterranean-low glyceamic style diet was associated with an 18% decrease in the likelihood of depressive symptoms in women whom already consumed a healthy diet and a 17% reduction in those that started a low glyceamic/mediterranean diet.

The study authors concluded, “Consumption of a ‘Mediterranean-style’ dietary pattern by mid-aged women may have a protective influence against the onset of depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that dietary patterns have a potential role in the prevention and management of depressive symptoms.”

Reference:
Rienks J, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 Dec 5.