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Associations between dairy and alcohol consumption and major depressive disorder in a mendelian randomization study
To provide fresh perspectives on major depressive disorder (MDD) prevention, this study by Qiu et al. (2024) investigated the connection between food and MDD. It used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with common meals such as bread, meat, cheese, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and alcohol intake as instrumental variables. Data analysis revealed significant associations between genetically predicted consumption of cheese, dried fruit, beer, and spirits with MDD risk. In particular, the consumption of cheese and dried fruit was negatively connected with the incidence of MDD, but beer and spirits were positively connected, with spirits exhibiting a more robust positive correlation. No significant link was found between other foods, such as meat, vegetables, and fruits, or alcohol types, like red and white wine, and MDD. In multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis, controlling for factors like insomnia, smoking, and contraceptive use, cheese was found to have an independent, significant causal relationship with MDD. However, beer, spirits, and dried fruit did not show any independent causal associations. The study also explored dietary patterns, alcohol intake, and depression rates in Shanghai, Peking, and Guangdong Provinces among Chinese residents, supporting the Mendelian randomization findings. These results suggest that a varied diet, moderate cheese, dried fruit consumption, and reduced beer and spirits intake may help prevent MDD. [NPID: Mendelian randomization, major depressive disorder, food intake, alcohol]
Year: 2024
