Consumption of sweet carbonated drinks may increase the risk of depression due to their impact on the gut microbiome. This is reported by JAMA Psychiatry.
The study is based on data from nearly 1,000 participants: 405 patients with clinical depression and 527 healthy volunteers. All participants completed dietary questionnaires and underwent symptom assessment using the Beck scale, while a subset of women additionally had their gut microbiome analyzed using 16S sequencing. It was found that high consumption of sugary beverages is associated with a diagnosis of depression and the severity of its symptoms, with this correlation observed exclusively in women.
The researchers explained this influence of diet on the 'gut-brain axis,' as the composition of the microbiome directly participates in mood regulation. It is known that the microbiome of patients with depression differs from that of healthy individuals, and transplanting their bacteria into animals in laboratory conditions can induce anxiety and depressive states. According to the authors, sweet beverages disrupt the balance of gut flora, which may contribute to the development of symptoms.
The lead author of the study from the University Hospital Frankfurt noted that the link between soda consumption and depression is formed through the microbiome. Although the effect is assessed as moderate, it is considered significant due to the high availability and widespread consumption of such beverages. Moreover, changes in the microbiome can be effectively corrected through diet, which opens up possibilities for prevention.
