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Dietary Fiber Intake and Depression in Heart Failure Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study From NHANES Database
Xuehui Qu1, Nan Zhou1, Lina Wang1
1Department of Mood Disorders, Tianjin Anding Hospital and Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
|June 25, 2026
Summary
High dietary fiber intake, especially from vegetables, is linked to lower depression rates in heart failure patients. This finding suggests a potential dietary intervention for managing depressive symptoms in this population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) patients frequently experience psychiatric disorders, with depression being a common comorbidity.
- Previous research suggests a beneficial effect of dietary fiber on depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dietary fiber intake and depressive symptoms in adults diagnosed with heart failure.
- To determine if specific sources of dietary fiber (vegetables, grains, fruits) have differential effects on depression in HF patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data (2005-2018) from adults (≥18 years) with physician-diagnosed HF.
- Dietary fiber intake was calculated from two 24-hour recalls using USDA's AMPM protocol.
- Survey-weighted logistic regression models adjusted for multiple confounding variables were used to assess the association between fiber intake and depression (PHQ-9 ≥10).
Main Results:
- 1041 participants were included, with 18.06% exhibiting depressive symptoms.
- High total dietary fiber intake was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29-0.86).
- High vegetable fiber intake also showed a significant association with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25-0.97).
Conclusions:
- Depression is less prevalent in heart failure patients with high total dietary fiber and vegetable fiber intake.
- The protective association was specific to vegetable fiber, not fiber from grains or fruits.
- Dietary fiber, particularly from vegetables, may play a role in mitigating depressive symptoms in heart failure patients.
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