Dietary Patterns and Major Depression: Results from 15,262 Participants (International ALIMENTAL Study)

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Psychiatry
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Dietary patterns are linked to depression risk, but associations across sex and age groups require further exploration.
• Understanding these differences can inform targeted public health strategies for depression prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate associations between dietary patterns and depression risk, stratified by sex and age.
• To identify vulnerable subpopulations for tailored interventions.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional international online survey (ALIMENTAL study, 2021-2023) with 15,262 participants.
• Validated food frequency and depression questionnaires.
• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for dietary patterns, followed by multivariate analyses.

Main Results:

• Ultra-processed food consumption associated with increased depression risk in both sexes (18-34 years).
• In women (18-34 years), sodas and canned/frozen foods increased depression risk.
• In women (35-54 years and ≥55 years), ultra-processed foods increased depression risk, while a healthy diet decreased it.

Conclusions:

• Significant sex and age differences exist in dietary pattern-depression risk associations.
• Findings support targeted public health interventions for depression based on diet, sex, and age.