http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3539842/
Depression is a debilitating disorder estimated to
become the second cause of morbidity worldwide by the year 2020. The
limited efficacy of antidepressant therapy, as well as the major
negative consequences of this disorder, has stimulated additional
research in order to determine possible adjunctive treatments. There is
mounting evidence linking dietary patterns to major depression
development.
This article presents some of the most
significant findings concerning the role of nutrition in major
depressive disorder. Although more focused and clear results are needed,
the correlation between nutrition and mental health is gaining
attention. Now, there is evidence supporting the importance of nutrition
in maintaining good mental health. We emphasize multiple findings that
support adherence to healthy dietary patterns, taking into account that
the production of neurotransmitters need, among others, right amounts of
nutrients, a lot of which can only be supplied through diet. Not only
certain nutrients are needed for proper brain functioning, but also
others can be harmful, promoting depression. The Mediterranean diet has
been linked to a low prevalence of depression while fast-food
consumption has been found to increase the risk of developing and
aggravating this disorder, hence the need for nutritional interventions.
From the perspective of discovering modifiable risk
factors, the role of nutrition in psychiatry could be more important
than it was initially considered.
