Consumption of different dietary patterns and its association with depressive and anxiety symptoms in adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32870/jbf.v6i11.134Keywords:
Dietary patterns, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychological distressAbstract
In recent years, a growing body of evidence has identified associations between the consumption of different dietary patterns and the development of mental disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. This narrative review synthesizes literature from the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases (2014–2024), including studies that analyzed the link between dietary patterns and symptoms of depression and anxiety in the adult population. Empirical evidence suggests that "healthy" dietary patterns characterized by a high intake of plant-based foods, fruits, whole grains, fish, and lean proteins, such as the Mediterranean, DASH, MIND, and healthy plant-based diets are inversely associated with the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, these patterns consistently correlate with protective odds ratios and improved scores on standardized clinical scales. In contrast, dietary patterns characterized by a high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, ultra-processed foods, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates, alongside certain "traditional" patterns, are associated with a heightened likelihood of these disorders. Therefore, high-quality dietary patterns may play a significant role in the prevention and adjunct management of depression and anxiety; however, further longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials are required to firmly establish the directionality and causality of these associations.
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