Study suggests Mediterranean diet can help treat depression

The Mediterranean diet has long been lauded for its simple, healthy approach to eating and is now proving to be a powerful treatment for major depression, researchers have found.

The link between diet and risk of depression has been known for some time, however the latest research has shown a Mediterranean-style diet of fruit, vegetables, fish, legumes, olive oil and nuts can be three times more effective than social support from a specialist.

A Deakin University trial gave one group of adults suffering depression social support, and the other group support from a clinical dietician over a three-month period, and found a third of the participants in the dietary group met the criteria for remission of major depression, compared to eight percent of those in the social support group.

"These results were not explained by changes in physical activity or body weight, but were closely related to the extent of dietary change,” Director of Deakin’s Food and Mood Centre Professor Felice Jacka said.

"While approximately half of sufferers are helped by currently available medical and psychological therapies, new treatment options for depression are urgently needed.

“Those who adhered more closely to the dietary program experienced the greatest benefit to their depression symptoms."

The world-first randomised controlled trial recruited 67 adults, all with major depressive disorder.

The study, published in international journal BMC Medicine, suggests the possibility of adding dieticians to mental health care teams and making dietitian support available to those experiencing depression.

The Mediterranean diet includes:

* Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts

* Eating fish and poultry twice a week

* Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month

* Replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil

*Using herbs and spices instead of salt to add flavour

With AAP.