Published in Clinical Nutrition, recent study highlights a strong link between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of depression. The study shows that individuals with diets rich in ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop depressive symptoms. This underscores the potential mental health risks associated with processed and convenience foods.
Affecting millions globally, depression is a leading cause of disability, impacting families and communities. It is complex, resulting from genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors with diet playing a major role in its development and treatment.
While previous studies have linked nutrient-dense diets to lower depression risk, large-scale studies on ultra-processed foods’ impact were lacking. This study aimed to fill that gap, providing evidence to inform public health policies and dietary guidelines.
The study utilized data from the NutriNet Brasil cohort, which included adults from all Brazilian regions who completed online dietary and health questionnaires starting in January 2020.
Participants’ diets were assessed using the Nova24h tool, classifying foods by processing levels. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 questionnaires. The final analysis included 15,960 participants free of depressive symptoms at baseline, examining the link between ultra-processed food intake and depression onset.
Results showed a clear association: high consumption of ultra-processed foods increased the risk of developing depressive symptoms by 42% where 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake was linked to a 10% increase in depression risk.
The researchers also conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, of six studies. This meta-analysis estimated a 32% higher risk of depression with high ultra-processed food consumption, reinforcing the study’s findings across different populations.
“It is worth noting that in additional analyses, we found that the association persisted (although reduced) even after adjusting for the nutritional profile of the diet and healthy foods (e.g., fiber content, saturated fat, added sugar, fruits, and vegetables), indicating that the higher risk associated with ultra-processed foods does not solely stem from their poorer nutritional composition,” said author, André de Oliveira Werneck, in a statement.
“Considering the recent longitudinal studies, we were already expecting an association between ultra-processed food consumption and depressive symptoms, even though Brazil has a lower average consumption of ultra-processed foods compared to other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.”
“However, the fact that ultra-processed foods are associated even after adjustments for nutritional composition, as well as the consistency of all studies included in the systematic review showing an association between ultra-processed food consumption and depressive outcomes, highlights the importance of strategies focused on reducing the consumption of these foods.”
It’s very clear that healthy foods are healthy for a wide variety of reasons that includes warding off mental health issues. And it’s not hard, eat unprocessed, whole plants, they’re everywhere in the grocery stores; as a matter of fact, many grocery stores makes it even easier for you by placing it where it is the first aisle you walk into.
While poor mood may make you want to eat high calorie, junk food, what you really need to do is do the opposite and eat some colorful, unprocessed foods.
AO Werneck et al. Adherence to the ultra-processed dietary pattern and risk of depressive outcomes: Findings from the NutriNet Brasil cohort study and an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2024.03.028
