Vegetarian diet and the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Askari, Mohammadreza; Daneshzad, Elnaz; Mofrad, Manije Darooghegi; Bellissimo, Nick; Suitor, Katherine; Azadbakht, Leila

doi:10.1080/10408398.2020.1814991

Cited by 51 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In contrast to our clear findings (both past (Dobersek et al 2020 and present), other systematic reviews and meta-analytic results were inconsistent or contradictory. These equivocal results suggested that vegetarians, and in some cases vegans had lower levels of depression or anxiety (Askari et al 2020;Iguacel et al 2020;Lai et al 2014;Li et al 2017;Liu et al 2016;Nucci et al 2020;Zhang et al 2017). As detailed in our systematic review (Dobersek et al 2020), numerous factors explain these inconsistent conclusions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Meat and mental health: A meta-analysis of meat consumption, depression, and anxiety

Dobersek

Teel

Altmeyer

et al. 2021

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

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in this meta-analysis, we examined the quantitative relation between meat consumption or avoidance, depression, and anxiety. in June 2020, we searched five online databases for primary studies examining differences in depression and anxiety between meat abstainers and meat consumers that offered a clear (dichotomous) distinction between these groups. Twenty studies met the selection criteria representing 171,802 participants with 157,778 meat consumers and 13,259 meat abstainers. we calculated the magnitude of the effect between meat consumers and meat abstainers with bias correction (Hedges's g effect size) where higher and positive scores reflect better outcomes for meat consumers. Meat consumption was associated with lower depression (Hedges's g = 0.216, 95% Ci [0.14 to 0.30], p < .001) and lower anxiety (g = 0.17, 95% Ci [0.03 to 0.31], p = .02) compared to meat abstention. Compared to vegans, meat consumers experienced both lower depression (g = 0.26, 95% Ci [0.01 to 0.51], p = .041) and anxiety (g = 0.15, 95% Ci [-0.40 to 0.69], p = .598). Sex did not modify these relations. Study quality explained 58% and 76% of between-studies heterogeneity in depression and anxiety, respectively. The analysis also showed that the more rigorous the study, the more positive and consistent the relation between meat consumption and better mental health. The current body of evidence precludes causal and temporal inferences.Many have unskillfully written upon the preservation of health; particularly by attributing too much to the choice, and too little to the quality of meats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Meat and mental health: A meta-analysis of meat consumption, depression, and anxiety

Dobersek

Teel

Altmeyer

et al. 2021

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

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“…[25][26][27] A meta-analysis of 13 studies by Iguacel et al 28 found that vegans and vegetarians were at increased risk of depression (OR=2.14, 95% CI: 1.11 to 4.15). Another systematic review and meta-analysis of ten observational studies by Askari et al 29 found no association between those who consumed a vegetarian diet and depression symptoms (pooled effect size: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.25). While a narrative review of 19 studies by Jain et al 30 found conflicting information, some studies suggesting that those who adhered to vegan and vegetarian dietary patterns had higher depression rates, while others indicated they were associated with decreased depressive symptoms.…”

Section: What This Paper Addsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Plant-based dietary quality and depressive symptoms in Australian vegans and vegetarians: a cross-sectional study

Lee

Eather

Best

2021

BMJNPH

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Plant-based dietary patterns (vegan and vegetarian) are often considered ‘healthy’ and have been associated with broad health benefits, including decreased risk of obesity and ill health (cardiovascular disease, blood glucose and type II diabetes). However, the association between plant-based diets and mood disorders such as depression remains largely equivocal. This cross-sectional study of 219 adults aged 18–44 (M=31.22, SD=7.40) explored the associations between an estimate of overall plant-based diet quality and depression in vegans (n=165) and vegetarians (n=54). Overall plant-based diet quality was associated with depressive symptoms in vegans and vegetarians F(1, 215)=13.71, p<0.001 accounting for 6% of the variation in depressive symptoms. For those without depression, higher diet quality was protective against depressive symptoms F(1, 125)=6.49, p=0.012. Conversely, for those with depression no association with diet quality was found F(1, 89)=0.01, p=0.963. These findings suggest that a high-quality plant-based diet may be protective against depressive symptoms in vegans and vegetarians. In line with emerging research between food and mental health, higher-quality dietary patterns are associated with a reduced risk of depressive symptoms. Given the rapidly increasing rate of vegan and vegetarian food products within Australia, understanding the potential mechanisms of effects through which a plant-based diet may influence depressive symptoms is required.

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“…Most are cohort studies or cross-sectional studies, in which no causal relation can established. In a recent study, data of several studies were pooled and no association was found between vegetarian diet and depression (pooled data of 10 studies) and also no association between vegetarian diet and anxiety either (pooled data of 4 studies) [65].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetarian or Vegan Diet: Stimulating or at Risk to Mental Health?

Meesters¹,

Meesters²

2021

Veganism - A Fashion Trend or Food as a Medicine

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Vegetarians and vegans are more preoccupied with their health and conscious of their food habits than omnivores and often have pronounced views on killing animals for food. They are generally aware of a healthy lifestyle. Their mental attitudes, strengths and vulnerabilities may differ from meat eaters. Nowadays, health considerations would seem to play a role in the decision to become vegetarian/vegan. This chapter presents an overview of the most recent scientific literature with some emphasis on aspects of the relation between psychiatric disorders and personality characteristics in subjects with a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle compared to subjects who do not follow this lifestyle.

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Vegetarian diet and the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Cited by 51 publications

References 54 publications

Meat and mental health: A meta-analysis of meat consumption, depression, and anxiety

Meat and mental health: A meta-analysis of meat consumption, depression, and anxiety

Plant-based dietary quality and depressive symptoms in Australian vegans and vegetarians: a cross-sectional study

Vegetarian or Vegan Diet: Stimulating or at Risk to Mental Health?

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