A study shows that the Mediterranean per diem expenses can reduce the risk of depression.
The research, led by the University of Navarra, has been published in the journal 'Archives of General Psychiatry'.
Depression is the leading cause of disability and loss of life years in the world. Approximately 15% of the population experiences a major depressive episode at least once in their lifetime. It is also the greatest risk factor for suicide.
However, despite the negative data there are new findings aimed at prevention. In this direction, the results of a Spanish study have just been published in the most important journal of psychiatry: Archives of General Psychiatry. This research sample that following the traditional Mediterranean diet per diem expenses is associated with a reduced risk of developing depression.
The work was presented by Full Professor of the University of Navarra Miguel Ángel Martínez-González; Dr. Francisca Lahortiga, of the Clínica de la Universidad de Navarra; and full professor of the University of Las Palmas Almudena Sánchez Villegas, co-authors, among others, of the study. The conclusions are part of the project of research SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra), directed from the School of Medicine of Pamplona and in which the Clinic of the University of Navarra and other teams from different universities also collaborate.
A risk reduction of 40 to 50%.
According to the Full Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, the project consisted of the evaluation of 10,094 volunteers who at the beginning of the study did not suffer from depression. "All of them were followed for four and a half years and 480 were observed to develop depression, clinically diagnosed. We then compared the frequency of onset of the disease according to the initial follow-up Degree of the classic Mediterranean per diem expenses , which allowed us to categorize the affected volunteers into five groups," explains the professor from the University of Navarra.
The results confirmed that those who best followed this traditional patron saint of per diem expenses presented a 40-50% reduction in the risk of developing depression. This conclusion indicates "that the Mediterranean per diem expenses can play a relevant role in the prevention of depression, and opens an important avenue to knowledge, with the goal to anticipate this serious public health problem", adds the specialist.
The study's findings are consistent with the fact that Mediterranean countries have the lowest fees rates of depression and suicide in Europe.
"At the same time," emphasizes Professor Sánchez Villegas, "several biological mechanisms explain how various components of the Mediterranean per diem expenses , such as olive oil or omega-3 fats from fish, can act on the mechanisms of action of neurotransmitters involved in depression, such as serotonin, and also improve the functionality of nerve cell membranes".
On the other hand, the protective capacity of the Mediterranean per diem expenses against depression could be associated with a higher consumption of certain vitamins of the group B and folic acid, present in products of vegetable origin, such as fruits, vegetables and legumes.
Top 6: vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, legumes and fish
The Mediterranean per diem expenses is characterized by a high consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, legumes and fish.
The source main fat is olive oil and admits a moderate consumption of alcohol. Preferably red wine. On the other hand, the consumption of meat and full-fat dairy products should be low.
In this sense, the project of research SUN -one of the largest epidemiological programs of study carried out in Spain and which already has more than 20,000 volunteers- has been analyzing since 1999 the possible benefits of the Mediterranean per diem expenses in the prevention of the main chronic diseases, such as diabetes subject 2, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases or obesity.
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The news in the media
New York Times (USA): Nutrition: Lower Depression Risk Linked to Mediterranean Diet
BBC (Great Britain): Med-style diet battles 'blues'.
El País (Madrid): The Mediterranean per diem expenses reduces the risk of depression by 40%.
El Mundo (Madrid): The Mediterranean per diem expenses can also protect against depression.
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