Ultra processed foods Linked to Increased Risk of Depression.
Ultraprocessed foods have been implicated for the rising burden of health challenges around the world. It has been reported to be strongly linked with several poor health outcomes like cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Recently, Harvard researchers found that it may also affect mental health and increase the risk of depression.
Ultraprocessed foods, according to NOVA classification, are foods that contain industrial formulations which may be derived from food or non-food constituents. Think of a list of ingredients you have never used in your kitchen, like protein isolates, hydrolyzed proteins, modified starch, xanthan gum, soy lecithin, etc. These ingredients are usually added to add volume to the food, preserve it or enhance its flavour and texture.
In a large study published in JAMA Network Open, the dietary patterns of 31,712 participants between the ages of 42-62 years were studied for over 14 years. Every 4 years, the participants were required to fill out a food questionnaire and the researchers checked if the participants had been diagnosed with clinical depression or exhibited broader symptoms of depression. The study found that those who frequently consumed ultraprocessed foods (more than 9 servings per day) were 50% more likely to develop depression compared to those who consumed it less frequently (less than 4 servings per day). This effect was more pronounced among those who frequently consumed artificially sweetened beverages.
It was also noted that participants who consumed ultraprocessed foods frequently generally had poor health behaviours such as smoking and alcohol intake; they had higher BMIs with a higher prevalence of metabolic diseases.
Our diet plays an important role in shaping our overall well-being. Although the mechanism by which ultraprocessed foods cause depression has not been fully discovered, the authors suggested that they may trigger chemical signalling in the brain that is related to brain inflammation, sleep disorders and cellular stress, all of which may contribute to how depression develops.
Sources
Samuthpongtorn C, Nguyen LH, Okereke OI, Wang DD, Song M, Chan AT, Mehta RS. Consumption of Ultraprocessed Food and Risk of Depression. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Sep 5;6(9):e2334770. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34770. Erratum in: JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Oct 2;6(10):e2341346. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37728928/
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