A recent study published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition suggests that adherence to a Mediterranean diet could potentially reduce the likelihood of depression among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
Conducted by Liya Ma and colleagues from Honghui Hospital at Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, the study analyzed data from 1,148 rheumatoid arthritis patients aged 20 years and older. Participants provided information through 24-hour dietary recall interviews.
The findings revealed that 25.26% of the participants experienced depression. Upon adjusting for various factors, the researchers observed that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced odds of depression, with an odds ratio of 0.53. Specifically, increased consumption of vegetables (odds ratio, 0.54) and cereals (odds ratio, 0.63) contributed significantly to this lowered risk of depression.
The authors concluded that their findings provide evidence supporting the idea that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet may enhance mental health outcomes in adults with rheumatoid arthritis. They highlighted the need for further rigorous cohort studies to establish causal relationships between diet and depression.
“This study underscores the potential benefits of the Mediterranean diet in improving mental health among rheumatoid arthritis patients,” the authors stated. “Future research should focus on establishing whether dietary interventions can indeed causally influence depression outcomes in this population.”
The Mediterranean diet, renowned for its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil, has been associated with various health benefits, including cardiovascular health and now, potentially, mental well-being in rheumatoid arthritis patients.