Meat and mental health: A meta-analysis of meat consumption, depression, and anxiety

Abstract

in this meta-analysis, we examined the quantitative relation between meat consumption or avoidance, depression, and anxiety. in June 2020, we searched five online databases for primary studies examining differences in depression and anxiety between meat abstainers and meat consumers that offered a clear (dichotomous) distinction between these groups. Twenty studies met the selection criteria representing 171,802 participants with 157,778 meat consumers and 13,259 meat abstainers. we calculated the magnitude of the effect between meat consumers and meat abstainers with bias correction (Hedges's g effect size) where higher and positive scores reflect better outcomes for meat consumers. Meat consumption was associated with lower depression (Hedges's g = 0.216, 95% Ci [0.14 to 0.30], p < .001) and lower anxiety (g = 0.17, 95% Ci [0.03 to 0.31], p = .02) compared to meat abstention. Compared to vegans, meat consumers experienced both lower depression (g = 0.26, 95% Ci [0.01 to 0.51], p = .041) and anxiety (g = 0.15, 95% Ci [-0.40 to 0.69], p = .598). Sex did not modify these relations. Study quality explained 58% and 76% of between-studies heterogeneity in depression and anxiety, respectively. The analysis also showed that the more rigorous the study, the more positive and consistent the relation between meat consumption and better mental health. The current body of evidence precludes causal and temporal inferences.Many have unskillfully written upon the preservation of health; particularly by attributing too much to the choice, and too little to the quality of meats.

The Association between Postpartum Practice and Chinese Postpartum Depression: Identification of a Postpartum Depression-Related Dietary Pattern

“…Regarding each food group, previous studies revealed that the association between meat and depression might be represented as a "U" shape. Although one meta-analysis showed a protective effect of moderate meat intake associated with lower depression and anxiety compared with meat abstention [34], excessive intake of meat, especially red meat, was associated with a higher risk of depression [35]. Meanwhile, a previous study revealed that not consuming three servings of nuts a week and not eating two servings of vegetables a day are predictors of depression, which supports our data [35].…”

The Association between Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivore Diet Quality and Depressive Symptoms in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Other studies only concluded gender differences; male vegetarians demonstrated higher depression than male omnivores, but females did not [ 38 ]. Interestingly, a recent meta-analysis of over 170,000 participants concluded that people who eat meat, predominantly omnivores, had lower depression than plant-based diet samples [ 78 ].…”

Sustainable or Not? Insights on the Consumption of Animal Products in Poland

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