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Soft drink consumption and depression mediated by gut microbiome alterations
This multicenter cohort study investigates the relationship between soft drink consumption and major depressive disorder (MDD), focusing on the mediating role of gut microbiota, particularly Eggerthella and Hungatella. Conducted in Germany, the study analyzed cross-sectional data from the Marburg-Münster Affective Cohort, involving 405 patients with MDD (67.9% female) and 527 healthy controls (65.5% female), aged 18-65 years, recruited between September 2014 and September 2018. Data analyses were performed from May to December 2024. Results indicated that soft drink consumption significantly predicted MDD diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.081; 95% CI, 1.008-1.159; P = .03) and symptom severity (P < .001; partial η2 [ηp2], 0.012; 95% CI, 0.004-0.035), with pronounced effects in female participants (diagnosis: OR, 1.167; 95% CI, 1.054-1.292; P = .003; severity: P < .001; ηp2, 0.036; 95% CI, 0.011-0.062). In women, higher soft drink intake correlated with increased Eggerthella abundance (P = .007; ηp2, 0.017; 95% CI, 0.0002-0.068), but not with Hungatella abundance. Mediation analysis confirmed that Eggerthella significantly mediated the relationship between soft drink consumption and MDD (diagnosis: P = .011; severity: P = .005), accounting for 3.82% and 5.00% of the effect, respectively. This study concludes that soft drink consumption may contribute to MDD through alterations in gut microbiota, highlighting the need for public health strategies aimed at reducing soft drink intake to mitigate depression risk, particularly among vulnerable populations. Furthermore, interventions targeting microbiome composition in depression treatment may offer promising outcomes.
Year: 2025
