Mind & Mood
Ultraprocessed foods may raise depression risks
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Eating lots of ultraprocessed foods — which are high in sugar, salt, fat and additives — may raise the risk of depression, a new study suggests.
The Harvard-led analysis, published in the September 2023 issue of JAMA Network Open, assessed the eating habits and mental health status of more than 21,000 women, ages 42 to 62, taking part in the long-running Nurses' Health Study II. None of the participants reported any depression symptoms at the study's start. Those who ate the most ultraprocessed food, defined as at least nine servings per day, were 50% more likely to develop depression than participants who ate the least, which was defined as no more than four servings daily. Consuming many foods and drinks containing artificial sweeteners was linked to a particularly large increase in depression risk.
The study was observational, meaning it couldn't prove ultraprocessed foods — which include items such as soda, chips, cookies, white bread, and ready-to-eat meals — cause depression, just that an association exists. But ultraprocessed foods may disturb the proper balance of gut bacteria, which has been shown to affect the way the brain works, the study authors said. Meanwhile, artificial sweeteners may disrupt feel-good brain chemicals that help nerve cells communicate normally.
Image: © monticelllo/Getty Images
About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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