Microbiota explains diet and depression relationship

A study of the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) of Tarragona has revealed that the gut microbiota could explain the beneficial effect of diet on depression.
The work, published in the magazine MedCommhas analyzed whether various eating patterns are associated with profiles that are related, in turn, to the depressive symptomsreports the URV in a statement this Monday.

The research analyzed 644 older adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome and evaluated the eating habitsthe composition of the intestinal microbiota from fecal samples and evolution of depressive symptoms after one year of follow-up.
The team compared various dietary patterns that reflect habitual ways of eating; were analyzed 4 highest quality patterns –like the standard mediterranean diet and some variants, among others– and 2 less healthy profile patterns.

Results

According to Europa Press, the results showed that the people who continued with greater fidelity, higher quality eating patterns they tended to present fewer depressive symptoms throughout the year, while greater proximity to the less healthy profile patterns was associated with a less favorable outcome, with more depressive symptoms.
The study also related the healthier patternsespecially the mediterraneanwith a richer and more diverse microbiotawhile the least healthy showed associations with a less diversity.

The finding is relevant because the microbial diversity It is often considered “a indicator of resilience and good functioning of the intestinal ecosystem“.

Microbiota, diet and depression

Additionally, the researchers found indications that the gut microbiota would explain part of the effect observed between the Mediterranean diet and depressive symptomsapproximately a 17% in the Mediterranean version with energy restriction and about a 31% in the standard version.
That is, a part of benefit associated with a Mediterranean diet could be related to the way this diet promotes a healthier microbial profile.

The main author of the work, Adrián Hernández-Cachopointed out that the study “is a important step to understand why some dietary patterns they seem more protectors than others”, although he clarifies that it is still necessary more research to confirm the causality.