Food consumption and depression among Brazilian adults: results from the Brazilian National Health Survey, 2013

Abstract

Our study aimed to evaluate the association between food consumption and depression. We used data from the Brazilian National Health Survey; a cross-sectional study carried out in 2013 among 46,785 Brazilian adults. The exposures were regular consumption (≥ 5 times/week) of the markers of healthy (beans, vegetables, fruits, and natural fruit juices) and unhealthy food (sugar sweetened beverages; sweets and the substitution of lunch or dinner for snacks); and a nutritional score elaborated by combining the frequency of consumption of markers of healthy and unhealthy food, the higher the value, the better the diet. The outcome was depression, assessed through the PHQ-9 questionnaire answered by the participants. Those with PHQ-9 scores greater than or equal to 10 were classified as presenting depression. We performed logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Regular consumption of sweets (OR = 1.53; 95%CI: 1.33-1.76) and regular replacement of meals for snacks (OR = 1.52; 95%CI: 1.21-1.90) were positively associated with depression. Regular consumption of sugar sweetened beverages was positively associated with depression among women (OR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.10-1.48). Regular consumption of beans was negatively associated with depression (OR = 0.74; 95%CI: 0.65-0.84), consistent for both sexes. Comparing the top quintile of the nutritional score (healthier diet) to the bottom quintile (less healthy) we found a negative association with depression (OR = 0.63; 95%CI: 0.52-0.75). Our results add evidence on a possible role of food consumption in depression; future longitudinal studies should explore the mechanisms of these associations.

Lifestyle behaviors changes during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine among 6,881 Brazilian adults with depression and 35,143 without depression

“…Considering the COVID-19 context and the higher vulnerability of people with mental disorders for psychological distress, a possible explanation can be through the association between higher perceived stress and food choices, in which people with higher stress tend to increase the consumption of sugary foods 19,20 . The similar increases in the low consumption of fruits or vegetables among participants with and without a previous diagnosis of depression reflect the already low prevalence of recommended consumption of fruit and vegetables before the pandemic 18 . A previous study also found that the consumption of fruits and vegetables was not associated with elevated depressive symptoms using the Brazilian National Health Survey 18 .…”

“…The similar increases in the low consumption of fruits or vegetables among participants with and without a previous diagnosis of depression reflect the already low prevalence of recommended consumption of fruit and vegetables before the pandemic 18 . A previous study also found that the consumption of fruits and vegetables was not associated with elevated depressive symptoms using the Brazilian National Health Survey 18 . Contrary to our initial hypotheses that people with previous diagnosis of depression would present higher rates of physical inactivity and high TV-viewing incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, we found that the incidence of both indicators was similar among participants with and without depression.…”

“…and fat consumption when compared to healthy individuals 14 . Also, people with depression are more prone to consume sugary foods [14][15][16][17][18] . Considering the COVID-19 context and the higher vulnerability of people with mental disorders for psychological distress, a possible explanation can be through the association between higher perceived stress and food choices, in which people with higher stress tend to increase the consumption of sugary foods 19,20 .…”

Modificações dos Hábitos Alimentares Relacionadas à Pandemia do Covid-19: uma Revisão de Literatura / Changes in Eating Habits Related to the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review

“…Pesquisas comprovam, ainda, que pessoas com depressão são mais propensas a consumir alimentos ricos em açúcar, sendo um fato alarmante quando se relaciona essa condição com o estresse Brazilian Journal of Health Review, Curitiba, v.4, n.2, p. 8464-8477 mar./apr. 2021 psicológico do COVID-19 (RENZO et al, 2020;SOUSA et al, 2020;WERNECK et al, 2020).…”

Prospective association of confectionery intake with depressive symptoms among Japanese workers: the Furukawa Nutrition and Health Study

“…Further, we recently reported increased risk of depressive symptoms among workers who frequently consumed soft drink (6) . Regarding sweet foods, eight studies have examined the association with depressive symptoms or perceived stress, and all have observed an increased prevalence or incidence of depressive symptoms (2,5,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) or perceived stress (12) . Of these studies, only two were prospective (2,5) and no study was conducted among Asian populations.…”