Consumption of low-fat dairy, but not whole-fat dairy, is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in Japanese adults

Establishing associated risk factors, including fungal and parasitic infections among Malaysians living with schizophrenia

The aetiology of schizophrenia is multifactorial, and the identification of its risk factors are scarce and highly variable. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the risk factors associated with schizophrenia among Malaysian sub-population. A total of 120 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (SZ) and 180 non-schizophrenic (NS) individuals participated in a questionnaire-based survey. Data of complete questionnaire responses obtained from 91 SZ and 120 NS participants were used in statistical analyses. Stool samples were obtained from the participants and screened for gut parasites and fungi using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The median age were 46 years (interquartile range (IQR) 37 to 60 years) and 35 years (IQR 24 to 47.75 years) for SZ and NS respectively. Multivariable binary logistic regression showed that the factors associated with increased risk of SZ were age, sex, unemployment, presence of other chronic ailment, smoking, and high dairy consumption per week. These factors, except sex, were positively associated with the severity of SZ. Breastfed at infancy as well as vitamin and supplement consumption showed a protective effect against SZ. After data clean-up, fungal or parasitic infections were found in 98% (39/42). of SZ participants and 6.1% (3/49) of NS participants. Our findings identified non-modifiable risk factors (age and sex) and modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors (unemployment, presence of other chronic ailment, smoking, and high dairy consumption per week) associated with SZ and implicate the need for medical attention in preventing fungal and parasitic infections in SZ.

Antidepressant-like Effects of Representative Types of Food and Their Possible Mechanisms

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by low mood, lack of motivation, negative cognitive outlook, and sleep problems. Suicide may occur in severe cases, although suicidal thoughts are not seen in all cases. Globally, an estimated 350 million individuals grapple with depression, as reported by the World Health Organization. At present, drug and psychological treatments are the main treatments, but they produce insufficient responses in many patients and fail to work at all in many others. Consequently, treating depression has long been an important topic in society. Given the escalating prevalence of depression, a comprehensive strategy for managing its symptoms and impacts has garnered significant attention. In this context, nutritional psychiatry emerges as a promising avenue. Extensive research has underscored the potential benefits of a well-rounded diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat in alleviating depressive symptoms. However, the intricate mechanisms linking dietary interventions to brain function alterations remain largely unexplored. This review delves into the intricate relationship between dietary patterns and depression, while exploring the plausible mechanisms underlying the impact of dietary interventions on depression management. As we endeavor to unveil the pathways through which nutrition influences mental well-being, a holistic perspective that encompasses multidisciplinary strategies gains prominence, potentially reshaping how we approach and address depression.

Association between Dairy Consumption and Psychological Symptoms: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study of College Students in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China

BACKGROUND

Assessing the dairy consumption and psychological symptoms of Chinese college students as a reference for the mental health of Chinese college students.

METHODS

A three-stage stratified whole-group sampling method was used to investigate dairy consumption and psychological symptoms among 5904 (2554 male students, accounting for 43.3% of the sample) college students in the Yangtze River Delta region. The mean age of the subjects was 20.13 ± 1.24 years. Psychological symptoms were surveyed using the Brief Questionnaire for the Assessment of Adolescent Mental Health. The detection rates of emotional problems, behavioral symptoms, social adaptation difficulties and psychological symptoms among college students with different dairy consumption habits were analyzed using chi-square tests. The association between dairy consumption and psychological symptoms was assessed using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

College students from the "Yangtze River Delta" region of China participated in the study, of which 1022 (17.31%) had psychological symptoms. The proportions of participants with dairy consumption of ≤2 times/week, 3-5 times/week, and ≥6 times/week were 25.68%, 42.09%, and 32.23%, respectively. Using dairy consumption ≥6 times/week as a reference, multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that college students with dairy consumption ≤2 times/week (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.71) were at higher risk of psychological symptoms (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese college students with lower dairy consumption exhibited higher detection rates of psychological symptoms. Dairy consumption was negatively associated with the occurrence of psychological symptoms. Our study provides a basis for mental health education and increasing knowledge about nutrition among Chinese college students.

Associations between total dairy, high-fat dairy and low-fat dairy intake, and depressive symptoms: findings from a population-based cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

Evidence on the association between dairy intake and depression is conflicting. Given numerous dietary guidelines recommend the consumption of low-fat dairy products, this study examined associations between total dairy, high-fat dairy, and low-fat dairy intake and the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms. Associations between dairy products, which differed in both fat content and fermentation status, and depressive symptoms were also explored.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 1600 Finnish adults (mean age 63 ± 6 years; 51% female) recruited as part of the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Dairy intake was assessed using 4-day food records. Elevated depressive symptoms were defined as having a score ≥ 5 on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III Depression Scale, and/or regularly using one or more prescription drugs for depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

In total, 166 participants (10.4%) reported having elevated depressive symptoms. Using multivariate logistic regression models, intake in the highest tertile of high-fat dairy products (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.41-0.998, p trend = 0.04) and high-fat non-fermented dairy products (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39-0.92, p trend = 0.02) were associated with reduced odds for having elevated depressive symptoms. Whereas no significant association was observed between intake of total dairy, low-fat dairy, or other dairy products, and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Higher intake of high-fat dairy and high-fat non-fermented dairy products were associated with reduced odds for having elevated depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Finnish adults. Given the high global consumption of dairy products, and widespread burden of depression, longitudinal studies that seek to corroborate these findings are required.

Relationship between dairy product intake and sense of coherence among middle and high school students in Japan

Despite the growing attention toward the effects of dairy intake on stress and mental health, its relationship to psychological constructs that affect mental health remains poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study (Study 1) and a longitudinal study (Study 2) to examine the association between food intake and stress resilience in Japanese middle and high school students. In Study 1, 865 participants (412 males and 453 females) completed the questionnaires. In Study 2, 109 students (51 males and 58 females) participated each year from 2016 to 2018. Dietary intake was assessed using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Stress resilience was evaluated using a 13-item sense of coherence (SOC) questionnaire. Correlation coefficients were calculated in Study 1 to investigate the relationship between food group intake and SOC. In Study 2, a cross-lagged panel model was tested using structural equation modeling to investigate the effect of dairy product consumption on SOC. Study 1 revealed that only dairy product intake positively correlated with SOC and other food intake indicated no significant relationship. Study 2 indicated that augmented dairy product intake was positively associated with SOC. Among all foods, only dairy products were associated with SOC in adolescents. Although the association was weak, the longitudinal study confirmed that dairy consumption was associated with SOC. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to examine the causal relationship.

Green tea consumption and risk of depressive symptoms: Results from the TCLSIH Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The prospective studies on the effect of particular type of tea consumption, especially green tea, on depressive symptoms are limited.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate the prospective association between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms in a large general adult population.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study investigated 7524 participants aged 25 to 90 years from May 2013 to December 2018 and they were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depressive symptoms at baseline. Green tea consumption was obtained through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Self-Rating Depressive Scale (SDS). The association between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 1064 first incident cases of depressive symptoms (SDS ≥45) occurred during 14,661 person-years of follow-up (median follow-up of 2.0 years). In the crude model, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.00 (reference), 0.95 (0.81, 1.12), 0.97 (0.83, 1.14) and 0.95 (0.79, 1.14), respectively. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and dietary intake, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.00 (reference), 0.88 (0.74, 1.05), 0.84 (0.69, 1.02) and 0.78 (0.63, 0.97), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The prospective study suggests that frequent green tea consumption is associated with a decreased risk of depressive symptoms in the general Chinese population.

Association of Smartphone Use Duration with Physical Fitness among University Students: Focus on Strength and Flexibility

High-frequency smartphone use leads to physical inactivity and may consequently cause the loss of physical fitness. Although the relationship between smartphone usage and physical fitness has been investigated, most of these studies focused on partial physical fitness, and the evaluation of the duration of smartphone use was insufficient. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the time period of using smart phones and physical fitness in Chinese university students. In this cross-sectional study, 8977 college students (5189 men and 3788 women) were enrolled. The assessment of smartphone usage was performed using a self-reported questionnaire. Physical fitness was measured in a sports facility, consisting of grip strength, standing long jump, and sit-and-reach test. The post adjustment relationship between smartphone use duration and physical fitness was examined by using the ANCOVA test. In the final adjusted model, an inverse association was observed between the smartphone use duration and grip strength in male and female participants (p = 0.003 and <0.001, respectively). The smartphone use duration was also negatively associated with standing long jump in both sexes (p = 0.003 for male and = 0.026 for female). In male participants, the longer the period of using smartphones, the lower their flexibility (p = 0.026). In conclusion, this study investigated the association between the duration of smartphone use and physical fitness. The results showed that longer durations of smartphone use were associated with weaker grip strength, a shorter standing long jump, and lower flexibility. Controlling smartphone-use duration might be beneficial for physical fitness among university students.

Associations Between Consumption of Different Vegetable Types and Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

Vegetable intake is an important part of our everyday diet and is associated with many positive health outcomes. Although previous studies have investigated the association between vegetable consumption and depressive symptoms among various populations, no study has examined this association in the adult working population. The present study investigated whether the frequency of consumption of a specific type of vegetable is associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese adult workers.

Participants and Methods

The final participants consisted of 1724 Japanese adults, and a cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the results. The frequency of vegetable consumption and depressive symptoms was evaluated using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), respectively. The association between the variables was examined using Poisson regression analysis. Age-stratified analysis was performed, and SDS cut-off values of 45 and 50 were used to perform a sensitivity analysis.

Results

After adjustment for covariates, including age, body mass index, sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables, health condition, C-reactive protein, and other dietary variables, an inverse association was found between tomato product consumption and the prevalence of depressive symptoms among men (P for trend <0.01); however, no significant association was found for other vegetable types. For women, there was no association between the frequency of consumption of any of the vegetable types and the prevalence of depressive symptoms. The results were confirmed by the age-stratified analysis for both genders.

Conclusion

Consumption of tomato products may help alleviate depressive symptoms, regardless of differences in dietary culture among men.

The association of sleep duration and quality with depressive symptoms in older Chinese women

Poor sleep quality or short and long sleep duration are associated with many negative health outcomes, such as diabetes, hypertension, and fatigue, which may directly or indirectly correlate with poor mental health. Although, the association between sleep duration and quality, and depressive symptoms has been examined, the results of these studies were inconsistent and evidence specifically on older women is lacking. Therefore, we designed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between sleep duration and quality, and depressive symptoms in a relatively large sample of older Chinese women. The data were collected from 1,429 older women aged ≥60 years during bone-health examinations in Shanghai. Information on sleep duration and quality were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS), and depressive symptoms were considered present for SDS scores ≥ 45. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between sleep and depressive symptoms. After adjusting for all potential confounding factors, a J-shaped association was found between sleep duration and depressive symptoms. When a sleep duration of 6–8 hours was set as a reference, the odds ratios and 95% confidential intervals of short and long sleep duration were 1.31 (0.99, 1.73) and 2.10 (1.40, 3.16), respectively. Moreover, sleep quality was inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms (p for trend = 0.040). When the SDS cut-off score defining depressive symptoms was changed to 40 and 50, these associations were somewhat weakened, but the trend did not change. This study replicated and extended prior research findings that sleep duration and quality may influence mental health in older women.

The Association of Smartphone Usage Duration with Physical Fitness among Chinese University Students

BACKGROUND

The use of smartphones has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, especially among the youth. However, smartphone overuse has been reported to be related to several negative mental and physical health outcomes. Although the association between smartphone use and physical fitness has been investigated in several studies, these studies only focused on specific elements of physical fitness, such as grip strength. In addition, evidence on young adults is limited. Thus, this study aimed to examine the association between the duration of smartphone use and physical fitness among Chinese university students.

METHODS

A total of 11,242 university students volunteered to participate in the study. The duration of smartphone use was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Physical fitness tests consisted of a 50-m sprint and vital capacity tests for both sexes, a 1000-m run and pull-up test for male students, and an 800-m run and sit-up test for female students.

RESULTS

The duration of smartphone use among the participants was 5.4 h/day for male students and 6.1 h/day for female students on average. After adjusting for confounding factors, in male students, a long duration of smartphone use was significantly associated with a slow 50 m sprint and 1000 m run time, lower pull-up times, and poor vital capacity (p = 0.004, 0.002, 0.002 and 0.040, respectively). In female students, a long duration of smartphone use was associated with a slow 800 m run time (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study found that longer duration of smartphone use was associated with lower physical fitness among Chinese university students. The duration of smartphone use may be an influencing factor for physical fitness.

The association between dairy products and psychological disorders in a large sample of Iranian adults

BACKGROUND

Dairy products contain certain nutrients that are useful in mental disorders. This study aimed to assess the associations between dairy products and psychological disorders in a large sample of Iran, a Middle Eastern country.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was undertaken on 7387 adults. Data on dietary intakes were obtained using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Psychological health was assessed by the Iranian validated version of depression, anxiety, and stress scale 21. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between dairy intake and psychological disorders.

RESULTS

After adjustment for potential confounders, total milk consumption (OR for the highest vs. lowest tertile: 0.73, 0.58-0.92) and total yogurt consumption (0.78, 0.62-0.97) were associated with decreased odds of depression. An inverse relationship was found between total dairy (0.73, 95% CI 0.590.91), total milk (0.72; 0.58-0.88), kashk (0.79, 0.65-0.96), and yogurt drink (0.80, 95% CI 0.65-0.98) consumption and anxiety symptoms. Higher intake of cheese was related to greater odds of stress (1.52, 1.02-2.26). No association was found between the consumption of high-fat dairy, low-fat dairy, low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, high-fat yogurt, cheese, kashk, yogurt drink, and depression. Also, there is no association between dairy products and stress symptoms. This association was significant among men and women and high-fat and low-fat products in the total adjusted stratified analysis models.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of this study revealed that both high-fat and low-fat dairy products are associated with a reduced prevalence of psychological disorders. Still, more prospective studies are required to confirm these associations.

The relationship between sunlight exposure duration and depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional study on elderly Chinese women

Sunlight has been reported to have various beneficial effects on human health. Although research indicates an association between sunlight exposure and depressive symptoms, no study has examined it among the older adult population, especially among elderly Chinese women. This cross-sectional study addresses the aforesaid gap by investigating this association in 1,429 Chinese women aged 60 years and older. Information on their sunlight exposure was collected through a self-reported questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The logistic regression models revealed that greater exposure to sunlight is associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. In the final adjusted model, when the short sunlight exposure category (reference) was compared with the medium and long ones, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the prevalence of depressive symptoms (SDS cutoff ≥ 45) were 0.84 (0.60, 1.19) and 0.62 (0.43, 0.91), respectively (p-value for trend = 0.01). This significant association did not change when the SDS cutoff points were altered to ≥ 40 and ≥ 50. Findings indicate that an increased sunlight exposure duration is associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in elderly women.

Physical Exercise Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms Among Elderly Chinese Women: Focus on Exercise Components

Purpose

Several studies have investigated the association between physical exercise and depressive symptoms in the elderly population. However, the relationship between components of physical exercise such as frequency, intensity, duration, and depressive symptoms remains unclear. This study was conducted on elderly Chinese women to investigate the association between each component of physical exercise and depressive symptoms and to examine the association between physical exercise patterns and depressive symptoms.

Patients and Methods

A total of 1429 Chinese women aged ≥60 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and provided information on their exercise behaviors through a self-reported questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) to measure the association between exercise behaviors and depression.

Results

High frequency, moderate intensity, long duration, and exercise habits were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, participants with more than one optimal exercise behavior were more likely to have a lower risk of depressive symptoms. These associations were not changed after adjustment for confounding factors.

Conclusion

This study shows that exercise behaviors were significantly associated with the risk of developing depression. This finding suggests that keeping an optimal exercise behavior may be associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms in elderly Chinese women.

Associations between whole and low-fat dairy products consumption, physical performance and mental health

BACKGROUND: Military staff are required to be in a proper condition of mental health and weight standards and have a specific level of physical performances (PP). Dairy products are rich sources of essential nutrients. It was demonstrated that Iranians consume much less milk and its products and there is no exception in the military staff. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between consumption of low or whole-fat dairy and psychological disorders and PP in military personnel. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four military zones of Iran. Dairy products intake were evaluated by using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The Persian version of Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were used to assess participants’ depression, anxiety and stress and PP were assessed by a 2-mile run, sit-up, push-up and pull-up. RESULTS: There was a significant negative relationship between the tertiles of total and low-fat dairy consumption and depression (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.79, P < 0.05), and low-fat dairy consumption and stress (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.93, P < 0.05). Also, there was a positive association between the last tertiles of low-fat dairy consumption and suitable PP (OR 5.28, 95% CI 1.08 to 25.71, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that consumption of dairy products and particularly low-fat products are related to less psychological problems and a better PP level.

Association between eating behaviors and depressive symptoms in Chinese adults: a population-based cross-sectional study

Eating behaviors are associated with health outcomes. However, data regarding the association between eating behaviors and depressive symptoms in Chinese adults are limited. We hypothesized that Chinese adults with problematic eating behaviors would likely have depressive symptoms compared to those with good eating behaviors. We included 1,998 participants (aged 25-68). Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between eating behaviors and depressive symptoms. Eating behaviors were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale. In the final adjusted model, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for depressive symptoms were 1.23 (0.99-1.53) and 1.30 (0.97-1.74) when a slow eating rate was compared to medium and fast eating rates, respectively and were 1.35 (1.08-1.68) and 1.40 (1.07-1.83) when breakfast consumers were compared to occasional consumers and skippers, respectively. Eating quickly and skipping breakfast were associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. These results suggest that eating behaviors may affect mental health in adults.

Grip strength and depressive symptoms in a large-scale adult population: The TCLSIH cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggest that muscle-derived cytokines (myokines) are linked with brain function. Although muscle strength measured by handgrip strength is a prognostic indicator of functional decline, epidemiological studies directly examining the association between grip strength and mental health remain scarce. The aim of this study is to clarify the association between grip strength and depressive symptoms in the general adult population.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of 24,109 Chinese adults (41. 5  ± 11.9 years; 46.0% females). Grip strength was measured by dynamometer and the greatest force was normalized to body weight (NGS, kg/kg). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Models of logistic regression were conducted to assess the association between NGS and depressive symptoms, with adjustment for established confounding factors.

RESULTS

Of the 24,109 participants, the prevalence of depressive symptoms (SDS ≥45) was 16.8% (males 15.7%, females 18.0%). After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval for depressive symptoms in the quartiles of NGS were 1.00, 0.96 (0.84-1.10), 0.91 (0.79-1.05), and 0.91 (0.78-1.07) (P = 0.03) in males; 1.00, 0.92 (0.80-1.06), 0.90 (0.77-1.04), and 0.80 (0.69-0.94) (P = 0.0002) in females, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

This cross-sectional study cannot determine causality.

CONCLUSIONS

Grip strength was inversely associated with depressive symptoms, with stronger association observed among females than males.  Further prospective studies or randomized trials are required to clarify these findings.

Association between sleep duration and quality and depressive symptoms among university students: A cross-sectional study

Sleep duration and quality have several effects on human health. Some previous studies have shown an association between sleep duration and quality and mental health, but the results of those studies were inconsistent. Additionally, studies on sleep duration and its impact on depressive symptoms specifically among young Chinese adults are limited. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association between duration and quality of sleep and depressive symptoms among Chinese university students. We designed a cross-sectional study comprising 9,515 Chinese university students. Sleep duration and quality were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed based on the Self-rating Depression Scale score. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between sleep duration and quality and depressive symptoms. The results showed that good sleep quality was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. In the final adjusted model, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the prevalence of depressive symptoms in those with poor sleep quality compared with those with normal and good sleep quality were 0.88 (0.77, 1.01) and 0.82 (0.81, 0.96), respectively (p for trend = 0.014). Moreover, short sleep duration was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms based on the crude model and final adjusted model (p for trend = 0.048 and 0.042, respectively). Poor sleep quality and short sleep duration were associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in this study population. These results suggest that reduced sleep duration and quality may be risk factors for mental health disorders among university students.

Relationships Between Eating Behaviors and Hand Grip Strength Among Chinese Adults: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

Poor eating behaviors are associated with imbalances in energy and food intake, which may directly or indirectly contribute to muscle strength loss. This study aimed to investigate the association between eating behaviors and hand grip strength in Chinese adults.

Materials and Methods

We designed and conducted a cross-sectional study of 2009 Chinese individuals aged 25–65 years in 2017. Eating behaviors, including breakfast consumption, snacking after dinner, and eating rate, were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Hand grip strength was assessed using a digital grip dynamometer. Age, sex, BMI, physical activity, educational level, occupation, living status, sleep duration, smoking and drinking status, hypertension, diabetes, and depressive symptoms were used as confounding factors.

Results

After final adjustments for confounding factors, grip strength was measured as 35.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.7–35.8), 36.0 (95% CI: 35.6–36.4), and 36.9 (95% CI: 36.6–37.3) for those who skipped, occasionally ate, and regularly ate breakfast, respectively (p for trend <0.001). Those who always, sometimes, and seldom snacked after dinner (p for trend <0.001) reported the following grip strength: 34.7 (95% CI: 34.0–35.3), 36.2 (95% CI: 35.8–36.6), and 36.9 (95% CI: 36.6–37.2), respectively. Significant associations were not found between eating rate and grip strength.

Conclusion

This study showed that higher frequency of breakfast consumption and lower frequency of snacking after dinner were associated with higher grip strength in Chinese adults. Therefore, eating behaviors may be involved in muscle function.

Associations of different types of dairy intakes with depressive symptoms in adults

BACKGROUND

Current evidence on the associations between different types of milk products and depressive symptoms is few and controversial, and there has been no study focusing on different types of milk (whole-fat, low-fat, and skim). This study aimed to appraise their associations.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included adults (N=21,924) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016. Patient Health Questionnaire was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. Logistic regression model was implemented to assess the association of dairy consumption with depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

After multivariate adjustment, compared to non-consumers, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of depressive symptoms for intake < 175.38 g/d and 175.38 to < 321.56 g/d of skim milk were 0.48 (0.27-0.85) and 0.46 (0.29-0.75), and 0.70 (0.55-0.88) for intake < 81.00 g/d of milk desserts, while 1.61 (1.05-2.46), 1.70 (1.15-2.50) and 1.55 (1.11-2.16) for intake < 129.63 g/d, 129.63 to < 289.75 g/d and ≥ 289.75 g/d of whole milk, respectively. These associations remained significant in stratified analyses by gender and age. Additionally, yogurt was negatively associated with depressive symptoms in both females and the age group (≥ 60 years). Low-fat milk was inversely associated with depressive symptoms for both males and the age group (≥ 60 years). Moderate creams intake was negatively associated with depressive symptoms in males.

LIMITATIONS

It was difficult to infer causality for a cross-sectional study.

CONCLUSIONS

Intakes of skim milk and moderate milk desserts were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, while whole milk was positively associated with depressive symptoms among adults.

The relation between dietary intakes and psychological disorders in Iranian adults: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies showed an association between dietary intakes and psychological disorders. This study aimed to assess the association between dietary intakes and psychiatric disorders in Iran.

METHODS

In this cross sectional research, the data on 9965 adults were extracted from enrollment phase of Yazd Health Study (YaHS); a population-based cohort study on Iranian adults which was conducted during 2014 to 2016. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, tobacco use, history of chronic disease, and dietary assessment were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire. Moreover, anthropometric measurement was conducted. Psychological and physical activity assessments were also performed by depression, anxiety and stress scale questionnaire (DASS 21 items) and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) respectively. Finally, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate relation between dietary intakes and psychological disorders.

RESULTS

After adjusting for the confounders, egg (depression: OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.52-0.98; anxiety: OR = 0.72, CI: 0.55-0.94), fruits (depression: OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.82; anxiety: OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.91), milk (depression: OR = 0.72, CI: 0.58-0.89; anxiety: OR = 0.73, CI: 0.61-0.87), and yogurt (depression: OR = 0.67, CI: 0.47-0.97; anxiety: OR = 0.54, CI: 0.4-0.73) were found to have protective effects on depression and anxiety. Higher fish consumption was associated with greater depression odds (OR = 1.54, CI: 1.18-2.04). Vegetables' intake had an inverse relationship with anxiety (OR = 0.74, CI = 0.58-0.93) and stress (OR = 0.59, CI: 0.42-0.82). Fruits (OR = 0.6, CI: 0.43-0.85) and milk consumption (OR: 0.61, CI: 0.47-0.77) were found to have protective effects on stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Egg, fruits, milk, yogurt, and vegetables' consumption had an inverse relationship with psychiatric disorders; whereas, higher fish intake was associated with higher depression chance. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Yogurt Intake Reduces All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Eight Prospective Cohort Studies

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between yogurt intake and mortality risk from prospective cohort studies.

METHODS

The PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched for all records related to yogurt intake and mortality risk [all-cause or cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer mortality] before October 1, 2018. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Scale was used to estimate the quality of all eligible articles. The results of the highest and lowest categories of yogurt intake in each study were collected and the effect size was pooled using a random effects model. The dose-response analysis was calculated using the generalized least squares trend estimation model.

RESULTS

Eight eligible cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. There were 235,676 participants in the 8 studies, and the number of deaths was 14,831. Compared with the lowest category, the highest category of yogurt intake was not significantly related with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR)=0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85, 1.01], CVD mortality (HR=0.92; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.03) and cancer mortality (HR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.12). These studies were homogenous, since the homogeneity test showed that I² was 28.7%, 15.1% and 11.8%, respectively. However, yogurt intake ⩾200 g/d was significantly associated with a lower all-cause mortality (HR=0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.96) and CVD mortality (HR=0.87; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.99) in the subgroup analysis. The dose-response analysis showed that yogurt intake of 200 g/d was inversely associated with all-cause mortality (P=0.041, HR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.00) and CVD mortality (P=0.009, HR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.98), and all of which were linear relationship (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This review provided the evidence regarding yogurt intake can reduce all-cause and CVD mortality. Although some positive findings were identified, more high-quality cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are warranted on a possible protective effect of yoghurt on health.

Daily dietary isoflavone intake in relation to lowered risk of depressive symptoms among men

BACKGROUND

The relationship between isoflavone intake and depressive symptoms has been examined among premenopausal and postmenopausal women but not among men. Therefore, we investigated whether isoflavone intake is associated with depressive symptoms among men.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2008 and 2011. A total of 1335 Japanese men aged 19-83 participated in the present study. Isoflavone intake was measured using the Brief-type Self-administered Diet History Questionnaire (BDHQ). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and two cut-off values (i.e., 40 and 50) were used. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between isoflavone intake and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

When the cut-off value for SDS was specified as 40, the odds ratios (ORs) for depressive symptoms were higher for the categories that were characterized by high rather than low levels of isoflavone intake in the crude model (p = 0.002). This association remained unchanged (p = 0.029) when potential cofounds were controlled for in Model 3. Multivariate linear regression analysis also showed a significant inverse association between isoflavone intake and SDS scores (p = 0.027; final adjusted model).

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional study is difficult to draw any conclusions about causality CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that a high level of dietary isoflavone intake is associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms among men. Therefore, isoflavone intake may have a beneficial effect on men's mental health.

Associations between diet and mental health using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire: cross-sectional and prospective analyses from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

Background

Mental health has become a major public health issue worldwide. Biological and epidemiological studies suggest diet has a role in the prevention or cure of mental disorders. However, further research is required to elucidate the relationship between diet and mental health. This study aimed to investigate associations between dietary intake of nutrients (macronutrients, vitamins, calcium, and fatty acids) and food groups (fish, meat and chicken, dairy products, and vegetables) and mental health among middle-aged Japanese in cross-sectional and prospective studies.

Methods

In total, 9298 men and women that participated in two areas of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study were eligible for analysis at the baseline (cross-sectional) survey. Of these, 4701 participants were followed for about 5 years and included in the follow-up (prospective) analysis. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to assess participants’ general mental health status over the past several weeks. The average intake of 46 foods over the past year was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. We also evaluated lifestyle and medical factors using a self-administered questionnaire. A cross-sectional logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate odds ratios for a GHQ score ≥ 4 (poor mental health) according to dietary intake of foods/nutrients at baseline. The prospective study used baseline dietary and lifestyle factors and GHQ scores at follow-up.

Results

The cross-sectional logistic regression analysis showed vegetables, protein, calcium, vitamin D, carotene and n-3 highly-polyunsaturated fatty acids were inversely associated with a GHQ score ≥ 4. On the other hand, mono-unsaturated fatty acids showed a positive association with higher GHQ score. The prospective logistic regression analysis found dairy products, calcium, vitamin B₂, and saturated fatty acids were inversely correlated with a GHQ score ≥ 4. Calcium was associated with GHQ scores in both the cross-sectional and follow-up studies. In the follow-up study, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for a GHQ score ≥ 4 was 0.71 (95% confidence interval, 0.55–0.92) for the highest versus lowest quartiles of calorie-adjusted dietary calcium intake.

Conclusion

Consuming particular nutrients and foods, especially calcium and dairy products, may lead to better mental health in Japanese adults.

Is dairy consumption associated with depressive symptoms or disorders in adults? A systematic review of observational studies

Diet quality is associated with depression risk, however the possible role of dairy products in depression risk is unclear. A number of epidemiological studies have examined associations between dairy consumption and depressive symptoms, but results have been inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to examine whether an association exists between dairy consumption and depressive symptoms or disorders in adults. Anxiety symptoms were also explored as a secondary outcome. CINAHL, Cochrane, MEDLINE complete, EMBASE, Scopus and PsycINFO databases were searched from database inception to December 2018. Studies were included if they used a case-control, cross-sectional, or cohort study design, and included community dwelling or institutionalized adults (≥18 years). Seven prospective and six cross-sectional studies (N = 58,203 participants) reported on the association between dairy consumption and depressive symptoms or disorders. Findings were mixed, with one study reporting a positive association; five studies reporting no association; and seven studies reporting mixed associations depending on dairy type, gender or population group. We found conflicting and inconsistent associations in studies that were generally of fair quality. Future longitudinal and intervention studies that employ more rigorous dietary assessment methods are warranted.

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and depressive symptoms in the general population in China: The TCLSIH cohort study

BACKGROUND

Depressive symptoms are a common, debilitating, and costly public health issue. Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection cause changes in the normal physiological state of the gastrointestinal (GI) flora. Although the physiological state of the GI tract is closely related to mental disorders, few population studies have examined the relationship between H pylori infection and depressive symptoms in the general population. The aim of this study was to examine whether H pylori infection is related to depressive symptoms among the general adult population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 5558 inhabitants of Tianjin, China. H pylori infection was diagnosed with the carbon 13 breath test. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Chinese version of 20-item Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) with three cutoffs (45, 48, and 50) to indicate elevated depressive symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis were conducted to assess the association between H pylori infection and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms (SDS ≥ 45) was 12.7% in men and 17.4% in women. In multivariable models, the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of having depressive symptoms by H pylori infection were 1.25 (1.01-1.56), 1.46 (1.11-1.91), and 1.46 (1.05-2.06) for three cutoffs: 45, 48, and 50 in women. However, no significant difference was found between H pylori infection and depressive symptoms in men.

CONCLUSIONS

This study firstly suggested that H pylori infection was related to depressive symptoms in women in the general adult population. Further prospective studies or randomized trials are required to clarify the causality.

Leucine-Histidine Dipeptide Attenuates Microglial Activation and Emotional Disturbances Induced by Brain Inflammation and Repeated Social Defeat Stress

The number of patients with mental illnesses is rapidly increasing, and daily lifestyle is closely associated with the development of symptoms. It is suggested that inflammatory molecules derived from microglia play crucial roles for the pathophysiology of depression. In the present study, we discovered that leucine–histidine (LH) dipeptide suppressed activation of primary microglia. The effects of LH dipeptide orally administered were measured using tail suspension test (TST) in mice injected with lipopolysaccharide and social interaction test in mice received social defeat stress. LH dipeptide reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines upon stimulation in microglia. Orally administered LH dipeptide was delivered to the brain and suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain and concomitant depression-like behavior in the TST. Moreover, oral administration of LH dipeptide suppressed the induction of depression- and anxiety-like behaviors induced by repeated social defeat stress. These results indicate that LH dipeptide suppressed the activation of microglia and ameliorated depression-associated emotional disturbances. Further, we found that LH dipeptide was abundant in various fermented products. Together with previous epidemiological reports that daily intake of these fermented foods is negatively associated with the incidence of psychiatric diseases, our findings suggest that food rich in LH dipeptide may improve mental health.

Dietary Patterns: A New Therapeutic Approach for Depression?

Introduction:

The field of nutritional psychiatry is a fast-growing one. Although initially, it focused on the effects of vitamins and micronutrients in mental health, in the last decade, its focus also extended to the dietary patterns. The possibility of a dietary cost-effective intervention in the most common mental disorder, depression, cannot be overlooked due to its potential large-scale impact.

Method:

A classic review of the literature was conducted, and studies published between 2010 and 2018 focusing on the impact of dietary patterns in depression and depressive symptoms were included.

Results:

We found 10 studies that matched our criteria. Most studies showed an inverse association between healthy dietary patterns, rich in fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts and whole grains, and with low intake of processed and sugary foods, and depression and depressive symptoms throughout an array of age groups, although some authors reported statistical significance only in women. While most studies were of cross-sectional design, making it difficult to infer causality, a randomized controlled trial presented similar results.

Discussion:

he association between dietary patterns and depression is now well-established, although the exact etiological pathways are still unknown. Dietary intervention, with the implementation of healthier dietary patterns, closer to the traditional ones, can play an important role in the prevention and adjunctive therapy of depression and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion:

More large-scale randomized clinical trials need to be conducted, in order to confirm the association between high-quality dietary patterns and lower risk of depression and depressive symptoms.

Effect of bifidobacterium breve A-1 on anxiety and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia: A proof-of-concept study

BACKGROUND

Studies of probiotics have suggested they have a positive effect on anxiety and depressive symptoms in humans. This study investigated the effect of consuming the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve A-1 on anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and explored its effect on immune products such as cytokines and chemokines.

METHODS

In this open-label single-arm study, all participants received B. breve strain A-1 (10¹¹ cfu/day) for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks of observation. The primary outcome was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score. Secondary outcomes were anxiety and depressive symptoms on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), blood test findings, and fecal microbiome composition.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine outpatients completed the study. HADS total score and PANSS anxiety/depression score were significantly improved at 4 weeks. Based on the criterion of a greater than 25% reduction in HADS total score at 4 weeks from baseline, there were 12 responders and 17 non-responders. Responders were found to have fewer negative symptoms, reduced intake of dairy products, and higher relative abundance of Parabacteroides in the gut microbiome than non-responders. Moreover, IL-22 and TRANCE expression was significantly increased at 4 weeks from baseline in responders but not in non-responders.

LIMITATIONS

This open-label, single-arm study cannot exclude a placebo effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the potential effect of B. breve A-1 in improving anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Further studies should investigate this effect in patients with other psychiatric conditions and assess dietary habits and the gut microbiome.

Food-based diet quality score in relation to depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged Japanese women

Only a few studies have focused on the association between overall diet, rather than intakes of individual nutrients or foods, and depressive symptoms in Japanese. This cross-sectional study examined associations between a diet quality score and depressive symptoms in 3963 young (age 18 years) and 3833 middle-aged (mean age 47·9 (sd 4·2) years) Japanese women. Dietary information was collected using a diet history questionnaire. A previously developed diet quality score was computed mainly based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 22·0 % for young women and 16·8 % for middle-aged women, assessed as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score ≥23 and ≥19, respectively. As expected, the diet quality score was associated positively with intakes of ‘grain dishes’, ‘vegetable dishes’, ‘fish and meat dishes’, ‘milk’ and ‘fruits’ and inversely with intakes of energy from ‘snacks, confection and beverages’ and Na from seasonings. After adjustment for potential confounders, OR for depressive symptoms in the highest v. lowest quintiles of the diet quality score was 0·65 (95 % CI 0·50, 0·84) in young women (Pfor trend=0·0005). In middle-aged women, the corresponding value was 0·59 (95 % CI 0·45, 0·78) (Pfor trend<0·0001). Analyses where the diet quality and CES-D scores were treated as continuous variables also showed inverse associations. In conclusion, this cross-sectional study showed that a higher diet quality score was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged Japanese women. Prospective studies are needed to confirm a public health relevance of this finding.

Consumption of Yogurt and the Incident Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Nine Cohort Studies

Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have evaluated the association of dairy consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the findings were inconsistent. No quantitative analysis has specifically assessed the effect of yogurt intake on the incident risk of CVD. We searched the PubMed and the Embase databases from inception to 10 January 2017. A generic inverse-variance method was used to pool the fully-adjusted relative risks (RRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with a random-effects model. A generalized least squares trend estimation model was used to calculate the specific slopes in the dose-response analysis. The present systematic review and meta-analysis identified nine prospective cohort articles involving a total of 291,236 participants. Compared with the lowest category, highest category of yogurt consumption was not significantly related with the incident risk of CVD, and the RR (95% CI) was 1.01 (0.95, 1.08) with an evidence of significant heterogeneity (I² = 52%). However, intake of ≥200 g/day yogurt was significantly associated with a lower risk of CVD in the subgroup analysis. There was a trend that a higher level of yogurt consumption was associated with a lower incident risk of CVD in the dose-response analysis. A daily dose of ≥200 g yogurt intake might be associated with a lower incident risk of CVD. Further cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are still demanded to establish and confirm the observed association in populations with different characteristics.