Healthy eating trends can positively impact mental health; nonetheless, it stays unclear whether the South European Atlantic Food plan (SEAD) is related to mental health problems. In a recent study published in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers examine the link between SEAD and the chance of depression.

Study: South European Atlantic food regimen and risk of depression: a European multi-cohort study. Image Credit: Ben Marsan / Shutterstock.com

What’s the SEAD?

SEAD is a standard food regimen consumed in northern Portugal and northwestern Spain, which could have some similarities with the eating habits of other European countries. In comparison with other notable European diets, corresponding to the Mediterranean food regimen, SEAD is high in dairy, legumes, meat, pork products, and fish, particularly cod.

There are many health advantages related to adherence to SEAD, a few of which include a healthier gut microbiota, reduced levels of varied cardiovascular risk aspects including C-reactive protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI), in addition to a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. Although eating certain SEAD foods has been related to a reduced risk of depression, the prevalence of depressive disorder has been reported to be higher in Spain and Portugal than in other European countries.

Concerning the study

The present study involved the evaluation of 5 cohort studies. The “Impact of Dietary Patterns and Sedentary Behavior on the Accumulation of Health Deficits and Physical Resilience in Older Adults (Seniors-ENRICA-1 and Seniors-ENRICA-2) are two study cohorts of individuals living within the Spanish community who’re at the very least 60 and at 65 years old, respectively.

The Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial Aspects in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) cohort, which was established between 2002 and 2005, consists of men and ladies between the ages of 45 and 69 from Polish cities. Moreover, the Whitehall-II study cohort included data obtained from civil servants in London.

Along with collecting data on depressive symptoms and dietary habits, the researchers also obtained demographic information on all study participants.

Adherence to SEAD was assessed using a degree method consisting of nine food groups, including fresh fish, cod, pork products and pork, dairy products, vegetables and legumes, vegetable soup, potatoes, whole grain bread, and wine. 

Depression was defined as a rating of three or more on the Elderly Depression Scale (GDS-10), self-reported medical diagnosis, and prescribed antidepressant use at baseline and follow-up within the elderly-ENRICA cohort. At follow-up, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). A rating of 4 or more indicated depression. Within the Whitehall-II study, depression was defined as a CESD-20 rating of 16 or greater, reported prescription drug use or a diagnosis of primary/secondary depression, or reported major depressive episodes in the present or previous yr.

SEAD is related to a reduced risk of depression

Seniors-ENRICA cohorts reported consuming 861 foods, whereas the HAPIEE and Whitehall-II cohorts consumed about 140 and 116 foods, respectively. Dairy products were most regularly consumed throughout the SEAD food regimen, followed by legumes, vegetables, potatoes, pork and pork products, vegetable soup, whole-grain bread, fresh fish, and cod.

Individuals who adhered more strongly to SEAD had the next level of education, less material deprivation, were non-smokers, had the next BMI, and consumed fewer fruits, nuts, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

During a median follow-up period of three.9 years, 1,437 recent cases of depression were identified, with SEAD adherence related to a reduced risk of depression. The chance of depression didn’t differ significantly between the Spain, Poland, and United Kingdom cohorts.

The next consumption of fresh fish, cod, pork products, pork, vegetables, legumes, potatoes, vegetable soup, and whole grain bread was more regularly related to a reduced risk of depression as in comparison with the next dairy content food regimen. When analyzed individually, consuming small amounts of wine was the one dietary product related to a lower risk of depression.

Conclusions

Previous studies have described the health advantages related to SEAD on gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health. Up to now, the impact of SEAD on mental health disorders stays unknown.

In the present study, researchers report the numerous advantages of SEAD on depression. This positive association could also be as a result of the increased zinc, omega-3 fatty acid, and magnesium content present inside SEAD food products.