Can Diet Intervention Reduce the Risk of Depression? Essay

Dietary components through different studies have been found to have a direct positive impact on depression patients. Different studies reinforce the hypothesis that a healthy diet can have a significant effect in getting rid of depression and also preventing possible depression. Sanchez et al. in 2013 carried out a randomized study which found out a negative correlation between a Mediterranean diet and depression. The Mediterranean diet was supplemented with nuts could be used to lower the risk of depression in diabetes mellitus 2 patients. The study provides an excellent approach to managing depression in diabetes mellitus 2 older adults. As such, a Mediterranean diet can be used in the long-term to reduce depression risk which is a common risk factor of other diseases.

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In another study by Zarnowiecki et al. in 2016, it postulates that poor dietary patterns increase the risk of developing depression. On the other hand, the six months randomized study argue that healthy diets that are low in processed food protect consumers against depression. Therefore, Zarnowiecki et al. confirm Sanchez et al. research findings in 2013 that relates Mediterranean diets with decreased risk of developing depression. The Mediterranean diets are made by high vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, cereals and fish accompanied by low intake of processed foods reduces depression and improves cardiovascular health. The participants in Zarnowiecki et al. research were aged between 18 and 65 years of age and had self-reported depression. The use of randomization in selecting participants and a control group is a significant strength of the study and establishes a direct relationship between Mediterranean diet and depression reduction. Therefore, recommending a Mediterranean diet to people with depression can have a positive impact on their mental health.

Diet is correlated with the risk of depression whereby in most of the cases, a healthy diet has potential not only in reducing the chances of stress but by also preventing depression. Depressed persons often have a poor diet; however, it is imperative to consider the question as to whether dietary interventions can reduce any risks of depression. A study by Roca et al., (2016) investigate the involvement of nutritional strategies in preventing depression, especially in high-risk individuals. In the study, they correlate the associations of obesity and depression with each other whereby multiple experiments were investigating whether depressed, overweight persons can be helped by supplementing specific nutrients of improving their diet among other food-related behaviors. Although most studies do not provide much information concerning depression in obese individuals, various epidemiological and clinical trials have delivered evidence-based research suggesting a bidirectional link between psychological health and obesity. After conducting a Mood FOOD prevention Trial aimed to provide a better understanding of the role of given nutrient supplements, diet, and nutrition with respect to the risk of depressions, Roca et al., (2016) concluded that food-related behaviors have a significant involvement in risk for depression, majorly for overweight individuals; however, most of the information is observational. Roca et al., (2016) deliver a recommendation on the use of nutritional strategies along with the need for more research regarding diet intervention in reducing the risk of depression.

Moreover, Jacka et al., (2017) find a possibility about the impact of diet changes on existing depression occurrences. With the use of a randomized trial design, Jacka et al. (2017) focus on investigating the efficacy of a dietary improvement module for the treatment of significant depressive happenings. Diet interventions comprise of different factors which consider both the physical actions of an individual as well as the overall mental positions not forgetting the nutrient intake. In a majority of the cases, healthy diets are characterized by proper eating associated with a low prevalence of depression symptoms which could lead to a lower risk of depression especially in avoiding junk food associated with an increased predominance of increasing depressive symptoms. The idea relating to the need for new approaches to ensure both prevention and treatment of depression is legible as Jacka et al. (2017), assessed 166 persons for eligibility in the dietary intervention and the results indicated that nutritional advancements and improvements might deliver remedies and preventions of the risk of depression.

In a similar study by O'Neil et al. (2013), its basis on the suggestion that a regular diet is delivering significant impacts to mental disorders such as depressions. As different nursing interventions neglect the role of lifestyle and diet in treating mental disorders, there are various emerging suggestions that nutrition delivers a vital role in the genesis of depression along with the treatments. Nonetheless, through a randomized controlled trial, O'Neil et al. (2013) strive to validate the involvement of diet on the risk of depressions. O'Neil et al. (2013) concluded that a nursing or dietary intervention for depression could play a significant role and has the potentials to deliver visible results about the risk of depression. In the study, O'Neil et al. (2013) provide a finding that dietary intervention could not only treat the heavy burden of depression but also help prevent depression.

References

Sanchez-Villegas, A., Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A., Estruch, R., Salas-Salvado, J., Corella, D., Covas, M. I., ... & Pinto, X. (2013). Mediterranean dietary pattern and depression: the PREDIMED randomized trial. BMC medicine, 11(1), 208.

Zarnowiecki, D., Cho, J., Wilson, A., Bogomolova, S., Villani, A., Itsiopoulos, C., ... & Segal, L. (2016). A 6-month randomized controlled trial investigating effects of Mediterranean-style diet and fish oil supplementation on dietary behavior change, mental and cardiometabolic health and health-related quality of life in adults with depression (HELFIMED): study protocol. BMC Nutrition, 2(1), 52.

Roca, M., Kohls, E., Gili, M., Watkins, E., Owens, M., Hegerl, U., ... & Visser, M. (2016). Prevention of depression through nutritional strategies in high-risk persons: rationale and design of the MooDFOOD prevention trial. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1), 192. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4898322/

Jacka, F. N., O'Neil, A., Opie, R., Itsiopoulos, C., Cotton, S., Mohebbi, M., ... & Brazionis, L. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the 'SMILES'trial). BMC Medicine, 15(1), 23. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5282719/

O'Neil, A., Berk, M., Itsiopoulos, C., Castle, D., Opie, R., Pizzinga, J., ... & Dean, O. M. (2013). A randomized, controlled trial of a dietary intervention for adults with major depression (the "SMILES" trial): study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 13(1), 114. Retrieved from https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-13-114