The study confirmed a possible link between salt consumption and manifestations of depression. The analysis was based on data from more than 15,000 adult participants in the American NHANES program, collected from 2007 to 2018. This is reported by Nutritional Neuroscience.
Respondents were asked to assess how often they add salt to already prepared food — from completely avoiding this habit to constantly adding salt. Psychological state was determined using the PHQ-9 questionnaire. After statistical adjustment, which included age, gender, body mass index, physical activity, and several other parameters, researchers found that individuals who regularly added salt to their food had a probability of depressive symptoms that was approximately 26 percent higher.
To exclude the influence of random factors and to test for causal relationships, scientists used the method of Mendelian randomization. Genetic variants associated with sodium consumption levels were taken into account. The data obtained showed that high sodium levels may be directly related to both the exacerbation of depressive manifestations and the risk of developing major depressive disorder.
The authors of the study consider the habit of salting food to be a behavioral factor that can be changed. They estimate that reducing the amount of salt in the diet could serve as an additional preventive measure not only for the cardiovascular system but also for maintaining mental well-being.
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