Navigation
Association of food groups with depression and anxiety disorders
To explore which component of the Mediterranean diet can be attributed to the association between adherence to this diet and fewer depressive symptoms, Gibson-Smith et al. (2020) analysed the food groups of the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) independently and in combinations, and explored their relationships with severity and diagnosis of depression and anxiety. Data from 1,634 subjects from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety was extracted for this cohort, also documenting information on food groups using the food frequency questionnaire. Regression analysis was then performed using the incidence of depressive and anxiety disorders (established using Composite International Diagnostic Interview) and disease severity (measured with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Fear Questionnaire). A total of 12 food groups were looked at based on those in the MDS, including alcohol consumption. The severity of depression and anxiety lessened as higher levels of non-refined grains and vegetables were consumed, while the inverse was seen within the non-drinkers. Those non-drinkers were also at greater risk of current depression/anxiety disorders as compared with the control population, while those on more non-refined grain enriched diets had favourable odds. Higher fruit and vegetable consumption was linked to lower fear severity. It is indicated in the study that non-refined grains, vegetables and alcohol intake may play influential roles in the positive association between MDS scores, and depression and anxiety, which in turn signifies supplementary studies may be required to test the protective function of non-refined grains and vegetables in depression and anxiety. [NPID: Mediterranean Diet, depression, anxiety, alcohol, non-refined grains, vegetables, fear]
Year: 2020
