Summary: | Background: Research on the role of diet in the prevention of depression is scarce. Some evidence suggests that
depression shares common mechanisms with cardiovascular disease.
Discussion: Before considering the role of diet in the prevention of depression, several points need to be
considered. First, in general, evidence has been found for the effects of isolated nutrients or foods, and not for
dietary patterns. Second, most previous studies have a cross-sectional design. Third, information is generally
collected though questionnaires, increasing the risk of misclassification bias. Fourth, adequate control of
confounding factors in observational studies is mandatory.
Summary: Only a few cohort studies have analyzed the relationship between overall dietary patterns, such as the
Mediterranean diet, and primary prevention of depression. They have found similar results to those obtained for
the role of this dietary pattern in cardiovascular disease. To confirm the findings obtained in these initial cohort
studies, we need further observational longitudinal studies with improved methodology, as well as large
randomized primary prevention trials, with interventions based on changes in the overall food pattern, that include
participants at high risk of mental disorders.
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