High sugar consumption in the population is associated with increased cases of depression. More exactly, the incidence of depression increased by 28% with each 100g of sugar consumed per day. This is the conclusion of a recent study published in BMC Psychiatrywhich looked at the relationship between daily sugar intake and depression, using data from over 18,000 participants in the initiative National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveyconducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2011 and 2018.
The research included two interviews, conducted 3-10 days apart – one to assess daily sugar intake from all foods and drinks consumed in the previous 24 hours, and the second to measure levels of depression (the questionnaire PHQ-9). The study took into account variables such as age, gender and medical history.
People with the highest sugar intake had a 33% higher risk of developing depression compared to people who consumed the least in the study.
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The study points to several ways in which eating too much sugar can lead to depression, highlighting the complex link between what we eat and our mental health:
- Disturbance of the intestinal microbiota: our gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, which play a crucial role in overall health, including mental health. A diet high in sugar can throw off the balance of these gut microbes. This imbalance can affect the brain and mood, which can lead to symptoms of depression.
- Metabolism of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and noradrenaline (NE): Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that transmit signals from one nerve cell to another. They have a big impact on mood and emotions. Eating too much sugar can interfere with how these neurotransmitters are made and work, which could disrupt mood regulation and contribute to depression.
- HPA axis: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis it is a system that controls our body’s response to stress. High sugar intake can overstimulate this system, leading to increased production of stress hormones such as cortisol. Chronic activation of the HPA axis and high cortisol levels can lead to symptoms associated with depression.
- Reduction of neurotrophic factors: Neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), support the growth and survival of neurons in the brain. A high-sugar diet can reduce the levels of these vital factors, which could contribute to the development of depression by affecting brain plasticity and neuronal health.
- Inflammation: High sugar consumption can lead to increased levels of inflammation throughout the body. Chronic inflammation has been linked to an increased risk of depression. This could be due to inflammation’s ability to affect brain function and neurotransmitter systems.
These results highlight the importance of promoting dietary guidelines that encourage the limitation of sugar consumption, with arguments beyond the chronic diseases common in the population (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.), to decrease the risk of depression and increase the quality of mental health. Further studies are needed to understand causal processes (the current study only shows an association) and to develop holistic strategies to combine dietary regulation with interventions to improve mental health.
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2024-04-09 15:34:40
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