A study published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition reveals that greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced odds of depression among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Conducted by Liya Ma and colleagues at Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, the study analyzed data from 1,148 RA patients aged 20 years and older using 24-hour dietary recall interviews.
Key findings include:
- Prevalence of Depression: 25.26% of participants reported depression.
- Mediterranean Diet Benefits: High adherence to a Mediterranean diet was linked to significantly lower odds of depression (odds ratio: 0.53).
- Role of Vegetables and Cereals: Increased consumption of vegetables (odds ratio: 0.54) and cereals (odds ratio: 0.63) contributed to the reduction in depression risk.
The authors concluded, “Our findings suggest that greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet may improve mental health in adults with RA. However, further rigorous cohort studies are needed to establish causal links between diet and depression.”
This study adds to growing evidence supporting the Mediterranean diet’s benefits for both physical and mental health, particularly in managing chronic conditions like RA.
