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The Role of Eating Behavior, Dietary Patterns, and Specific Foods and Nutrients in Depressive Symptoms across the Lifespan

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 June 2023) | Viewed by 11887

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Arthur Eumann Mesas

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Guest Editor

Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
Interests: epidemiology and public health; lifestyle; nutrition; sleep disorders and sleep medicine; physical activity; sedentary behavior; mental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Estela Jimenez-López

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Guest Editor

1. Health and Social Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
2. Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Virgen de La Luz, 16002 Cuenca, Spain
Interests: mental health; mental disorders; cognition; psychosocial functioning; nutrition; physical activity; sedentary behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Depression is currently one of the most prevalent mental disorders and entails a substantial burden to individuals and their families, as well as to society, in the context of occupational and public health. Despite the current availability of several antidepressant drugs, their effects are not always sufficient to control depressive symptomatology. Therefore, the study of nonpharmacological alternatives, such as dietary behavior and the consumption of specific foods and nutrients, has gained the attention of clinicians and researchers for their potential role in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders.

This Special Issue will include review articles and observational and experimental studies on the role of eating behavior, dietary patterns, and specific foods and nutrients in depressive symptoms and depressive disorders across the lifespan. Studies that explore the possible pathophysiological and behavioral mechanisms behind these associations are also encouraged. we expect to gather relevant and essential scientific content for the understanding of the diet–depression relationship, which can support the elaboration of dietary recommendations and guide future studies on this topic.

Dr. Arthur Eumann Mesas
Dr. Estela Jimenez-López
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

nutrition
diet
depression
depressive disorders

Published Papers (5 papers)

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14 pages, 902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Negative Association between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Depression in a Young Adult US Population: A Cross-Sectional Study of NHANES 2007–2018

by Jiwen Ma and Ka Li

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2947; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132947 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1654

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D has been suggested to play a role in the development of depression, but the nature of the relationship between the two is still not fully understood. Although some studies have shown an association between vitamin D deficiency and depression, others have yielded inconsistent or inconclusive results. As a result, further research is needed to better understand the relationship between vitamin D and depression. Objectives: This study aims to assess the association between serum vitamin D and the risk of depressive symptoms in individuals aged 20 years and older in the United States. Methods: We selected 7562 participants from the 2007–2018 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Participants’ serum vitamin D levels were determined from laboratory data, and those with a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score of ≥ 10 were considered to have depressive symptoms. Associations between vitamin D and depressive symptoms were investigated using multiple logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and smoothed curve fitting. Results: In our study, 11.17% of the participants had depression. Multiple regression stratified analysis showed a significant inverse association between serum vitamin D and depression in the 29–39 years age group after full adjustment (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31–0.95, p = 0.0316). This result was supported by subgroup analysis and smoothed curve fitting. Conclusions: The association between serum vitamin D and depressive status in US adults varied across populations. Among those aged 29–39 years, vitamin D supplementation tended to show a lower rate of depression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Eating Behavior, Dietary Patterns, and Specific Foods and Nutrients in Depressive Symptoms across the Lifespan)

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12 pages, 1187 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Psychosocial Health Problems in Spanish Adolescents: The EHDLA Study

by Sofía Alfaro-González, Miriam Garrido-Miguel, Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno and José Francisco López-Gil

Nutrients 2023, 15(13), 2905; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132905 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1388

Abstract

The aims of the present study were twofold: to determine the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and psychological problems and to assess the relationship between different food groups of the MedDiet and different patterns of psychosocial health problems in a sample of Spanish adolescents from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia, Spain). This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 700 adolescents (57% girls) between 12 and 17 years of age. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Teenagers (KIDMED). Psychosocial health problems were measured by the 25-item self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). ANCOVA models were used to test the mean differences in psychosocial health problems (SDQ subscales) by adherence to MedDiet categories (low, medium, and high). Multiple linear regression was used to determine the association between different food groups of the MedDiet and psychosocial health problems. Adolescents with low adherence to the MedDiet had significantly higher scores in SDQ total difficulties, conduct problems, and hyperactivity problems and lower scores in pro-social behavior (p < 0.05) than their peers with medium and high adherence to the MedDiet. In relation to specific MedDiet food groups, fruit, nut, and legume intake were associated with higher psychosocial health. However, sweets, skipping breakfast, or high consumption of pasta or rice (≥5 weeks) were associated to higher psychosocial health problems. Our results show that adolescents with higher adherence to the MedDiet could benefit from greater psychosocial health. Individually, some patterns of MedDiet, such as fruit, nut, and legume intake, may reduce psychosocial health problems. These cross-sectional results should be confirmed in longitudinal and intervention studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Eating Behavior, Dietary Patterns, and Specific Foods and Nutrients in Depressive Symptoms across the Lifespan)

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17 pages, 345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nutrient Inadequacy in Korean Young Adults with Depression: A Case Control Study

by Su-In Yoon, Hye-Ri Moon, So Rok Lee, Jingnan Zhang, Soojin Lee and Jin Ah Cho

Nutrients 2023, 15(9), 2195; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092195 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2439

Abstract

The role of diet is gaining attention among the modifiable factors associated with depression; thus, this case–control study examined the association between nutrition and depression in young Korean adults. Dietary surveys in individuals with depression (n = 39) and age- and gender-matched controls (n = 76) were conducted using food records and food frequency questionnaires. Men with depression consumed less mushrooms and meat, while women consumed significantly less grains (p < 0.05). Overall, the depression group consumed less energy and nutrients, and the difference was more pronounced in men. The male depression group had lower nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) for energy, protein, vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, folate, and phosphorus, whereas the female depression group had lower NARs for energy, protein, niacin, and vitamin B₁₂. The depression group had a significantly lower mean adequacy ratio in both genders. Furthermore, the proportion of inappropriate nutrient intake was higher in both genders of the depression group, exhibiting significant differences in energy, protein, niacin, folate, and zinc in men and energy, riboflavin, folate, and vitamin C in women. Hence, both men and women in the depression group had poor nutrient intake and high rates of nutrient inadequacy and improper consumption. This suggests that the quantity and quality of meals should be improved for individuals with depressive symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Eating Behavior, Dietary Patterns, and Specific Foods and Nutrients in Depressive Symptoms across the Lifespan)

12 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Fats and Depressive Symptoms in Italian Adults

by Walter Currenti, Justyna Godos, Amer M. Alanazi, Giuseppe Lanza, Raffaele Ferri, Filippo Caraci, Fabio Galvano, Sabrina Castellano and Giuseppe Grosso

Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030675 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2071

Abstract

Background: Depression represents one of the major causes of disability worldwide, with an important socioeconomic cost. Although many risk factors have been considered in its pathogenesis, nutrition seems to play a determinant role in its prevention. With regard to individual macronutrients, dietary fats and especially n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are the most studied. However, previous data about other dietary fatty acids, such as n-6 PUFA, are conflicting, and little is known about saturated fatty acids (SFA), especially when considering carbon chain length. Thus, we investigated whether single types and subtypes of dietary fats are related to depressive symptoms in Italian individuals living in the Mediterranean area. Methods: Dietary and socio-demographic data of 1572 individuals were analyzed. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were used to determine the consumption of total dietary fat and each specific class of dietary fat, such as SFA, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), and PUFA. The intake of fatty acids was also assessed according to the carbon-chain length of each single class. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used as a screening tool for depressive symptoms. Results: After adjustment for potential confounding factors, a significant inverse association between low/moderate levels of PUFA intake and depressive symptoms (Q2 vs. Q1, odds ratio (OR) = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.84) was found. On the other hand, moderate saturated fat consumption was associated with depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.04). However, when considering carbon chain length, individuals with a lower to moderate intake of short-chain saturated fatty acids (SCSFA) and medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCSFA) were less likely to have depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.75), while moderate intake of arachidic acid (C20:0) was directly associated with depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.77). Among single MUFAs, higher myristoleic acid (C14:1) intake was directly associated with depressive symptoms (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.61), while moderate intake of erucic acid (C22:1) was associated with lower odds of having depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.86). When considering individual PUFAs, individuals with moderate and higher intakes of arachidonic acid (C20:4) were less likely to have depressive symptoms (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.91; OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.91, respectively). Similarly, higher eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) intake was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.98), while a significant association for docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) was retrieved only for low intakes (Q2 vs. Q1, OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.88). Conclusions: Dietary fat intake may be associated with depressive symptoms, underlying the importance of distinguishing between different fat types. This study confirms the pivotal role of PUFAs and reopens the debate on the role of saturated fatty acids, suggesting plausible effects of moderate intakes of short-chain fatty acids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Eating Behavior, Dietary Patterns, and Specific Foods and Nutrients in Depressive Symptoms across the Lifespan)

12 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food Is Associated with Poor Mental Health in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescent Students in Brazil

by Arthur Eumann Mesas, Alberto Durán González, Selma Maffei de Andrade, Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno, José Francisco López-Gil and Estela Jiménez-López

Nutrients 2022, 14(24), 5207; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245207 - 7 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3855

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and mental health symptoms in a nationally representative sample of the Brazilian adolescent student population. Cross-sectional analyses with data from the National School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE 2019) were performed. Self-reported information was obtained for the frequency of five mental health symptoms in the last month and the consumption of thirteen UPFs in the last 24 h. Generalized linear models adjusting for the main confounders were performed for each sex. Of the 94,767 adolescent students (52.4% girls) included, 8.1% of the boys and 27.2% of the girls reported “almost always” or “always” having at least four of the five mental health symptoms. In the fully adjusted models, compared to the boys who consumed ≤3 UPF, those consuming ≥6 UPF reported more frequent symptoms of poor mental health (ß-coefficient = 0.27 [0.03, 0.51]; p-for-trend = 0.005). A similar association was observed in girls (ß-coefficient = 0.31 [0.13, 0.50]; p-for-trend = 0.001). In conclusion, in this large sample of adolescent students from an entire country, the higher the consumption of UPF was, the higher the frequency of reported symptoms of poor mental health. These findings remained significant regardless of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, self-perceived body image, and bullying victimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Eating Behavior, Dietary Patterns, and Specific Foods and Nutrients in Depressive Symptoms across the Lifespan)

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