Dietary patterns and depression risk in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Context Diet may be one of the modifiable environmental factors that could reduce depressive symptoms or abate the development of depression without side effects. However, previous reviews mainly focused on general adult populations. Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the association between healthy dietary patterns and depression risk in older adults. Data Sources Eight databases were searched up to September 2019. The inclusion criteria were older adults aged ≥ 65 years, healthy dietary patterns, depression assessed by a physician or by validated screening tools, and quantitative study design. Data Extraction Data were extracted independently by 2 researchers, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guideline was followed. Data Analysis Meta-analysis was conducted by calculating the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs. A total of 18 eligible studies were meta-analyzed. Results showed that a healthy dietary pattern is associated with a reduced risk of depression in older adults (OR, 0.85; 95%CI, 0.78–0.92; P < 0.001). There was high heterogeneity (I2 = 64.9%; P < 0.001) among the studies. Subgroup analyses indicated that sample size and depression screening tools were the main sources of study heterogeneity. Conclusions An inverse association between healthy dietary patterns and depression risk in older adults was found. However, the high heterogeneity among the studies should be considered. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD 42020169195.

A healthy eating score is inversely associated with depression in older adults: results from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016–2017

“…Future studies should include a more accurate and comprehensive dietary assessment to determine the role of diet in depression development (12,64) . For example, high-fat diets are known to cause gut dysbiosis and induce metabolic endotoxemia.…”

“…Moreover, a recent systematic review has demonstrated that adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with improvement in mental health (11) . Thus, a healthy dietary pattern could contribute to reducing the risk for depression, and supporting medical treatment of depression, partially decreasing undesirable side effects (12) . Nonetheless, studies linking dietary patterns and depression risk are heterogeneous, and findings remain inconclusive (13) with no studies in some regions such as Latin America (14) .…”

“…Hence, to our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between healthy foods and depression risk in Chilean older adults. Moreover, the current focus of nutritional epidemiological studies is exploring dietary patterns or food groups instead of specific foods because this reductionist approach may not consider synergistic or antagonistic effects from the whole diet (12,16) . The aim of the study was to investigate the association of a healthy eating score with depression in Chilean older adults.…”

Fruit and vegetable consumption and depression symptoms in young women: results from 1973 to 1978 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

“…However, several systematic reviews found conflicting findings across age groups from observational evidence [20][21][22][23][24]. A differential effect of fruit and vegetables was reported in studies that examined the effects of fruit and vegetables separately on depression symptoms [25][26][27].…”

Nutritional Psychiatry: How Diet Affects Brain through Gut Microbiota

“…Today, nutritional support as supplements or dietary interventions characterize adjuvant therapy against depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive decline [12][13][14][15][16]. Moreover, a great deal of studies have been conducted relating dietary variables and the prevention of mental health disorders [17][18][19]. Together with the aforementioned mechanisms, current evidence suggests that the rich innervation of the gastrointestinal system might deliver impulses and signals to the brain in addition to receiving them [20].…”