Higher consumption of plant-based food and a diet of egg, seafood, poultry, and meat appear to reduce the likelihood of depressive symptoms in adults, reports a China study.
On the other hand, increased intake of poultry, organ meats, freshwater fish, and dried or pickled vegetables may raise the odds of depressive symptoms.
“In this study, both the Balanced and the Animal-Seafood Egg dietary patterns were associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older individuals,” the researchers said.
The analysis, based on a community-based cross-sectional study from Qingdao, China, included a total of 2,956 individuals (mean age 57.2 years, 62.4 percent women). Data were obtained from field surveys conducted from August 2009 to November 2020.
The research team assessed dietary intake using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and derived dietary patterns using principal component analysis. They assessed depressive symptoms using the validated Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and explored the link between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms using logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses.
Dietary pattern
More than one in 10 participants (12.4 percent) had depressive symptoms, and they were younger, more likely to be smokers, had a higher BMI, and had lower income and education levels than those without depressive symptoms. [Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2026;35:207-218]
The researchers identified four dietary patterns, namely balanced, animal-pickled vegetables, high sugar-alcohol, and animal-seafood-egg.
The balanced (odds ratio [OR], 0.53; p<0.01) and Animal-Seafood-Egg (OR, 0.74; p<0.01) dietary patterns showed a negative association with depressive symptoms, whereas the animal-pickled vegetables dietary patterns positively correlated with depressive symptoms. No significant association was noted for the high sugar-alcohol dietary pattern.
In subgroup analysis, the inverse effects of the balanced and animal-seafood-egg dietary patterns were more noticeable among women aged <60 years, nonsmokers, and urban residents relative to their counterparts. Sensitivity analysis confirmed stability across the continuous and quartile-based variables.
Balanced diet
“A healthy balanced diet involves high consumption of whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables and limited intake of high-fat, processed foods, and sugar,” the researchers said. “This pattern represents a typical Asian dietary model, and such models have been widely recognized in the literature for having mental health benefits.”
Previous studies have shown that adherence to a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and high-quality proteins could reduce levels of depressive symptoms and enhance psychological well-being. [Nutrients 2020;12:115; Antioxidants (Base) 2019;8:376]
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis also revealed the association of plant-based diet with a lower risk of depression, supporting the positive role of a healthy diet in mental health. [Front Nutr 2022;9:857823]
“These food items are rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, carotenoids, and zinc, which may be involved in pathways related to depressive symptoms, [while] whole grains and refined grains are major sources of carbohydrates,” the researchers said. “Moreover, whole grains are rich in dietary fibres, B vitamins, and minerals, which support gut health by promoting beneficial gut bacteria.”
Furthermore, the association observed between seafood-egg dietary pattern and reduced depressive symptoms could be attributed to seafood being a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have been shown to ease depressive symptoms by reducing brain inflammation and promoting neurotransmitter synthesis. [J Epidemiol Community Health 2016;70:299-304; Acta Psychiatr Scand 2006;113:31-35]
“Further research is required to explore the causal associations between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms,” the researchers said.