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Is There a Relationship between Vegetarianism and Seasonal Affective Disorder? A Pilot Study
Alie N R Meesters1, Mirkka Maukonen, Timo Partonen
1Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Background And Aim:
Seasonal patterns of food intake are found in healthy individuals and particularly in patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). One nutritional choice is a vegetarian diet.
Methods:
In a Finnish population study, FINRISK 2012, information about diet and SAD was collected. In a Dutch outpatient clinic, SAD patients were asked if they were vegetarian.
Results:
The percentage of SAD patients among Finnish vegetarians was 4 times higher than in the normal population. The percentage of vegetarians among the SAD patients in a Dutch outpatient clinic was 3 times higher than in the normal population. In the Dutch population, the seasonal loss of energy, in particular, is related to vegetarianism.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest a possible link between vegetarianism and SAD.
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