The Association of Energy Distribution Between Dinner and Breakfast With Depressive Symptoms in Early Pregnancy

To examine the association between the distribution of energy and macronutrients between dinner and breakfast and depressive symptoms in early pregnancy.

This study used baseline data from a maternity cohort conducted in Wuhan, China. Dietary intake was assessed via a 24-h recall, and depressive symptoms were defined as EPDS ≥ 10. The differences in energy and macronutrient intake between dinner and breakfast (Δ = dinner-breakfast) were categorized into tertiles. Logistic regression models were developed to assess the associations between Δ and depressive symptoms. Isocaloric substitution models were used to evaluate the effect of shifting energy or macronutrients from dinner to breakfast.

Two hundred two individuals (41.74%) met the criteria for depressive symptoms. The highest tertile was associated with a significantly increased risk of depressive symptoms compared with the lowest tertile after multivariable adjustment (ΔEnergy: OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.21-3.19; ΔCarbohydrate: OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.17-3.06; ΔFat: OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.03-2.64). Isocalorically replacing 5% of total energy at dinner with breakfast was associated with a 7% (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.86-0.99) lower risk of depressive symptoms, while macronutrient substitution between meals showed no significant effect.

Higher energy and macronutrient intake at dinner relative to breakfast was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, highlighting the potential importance of daily energy distribution for mental health in early pregnancy.