Abstract:

The association between diet, nutrition and depression has become of increasing interest in recent decades. In the past, most studies have focused on the association of depression with specific nutrients or foods, within which n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) and folate have received significant attention. There has been a shift in focus from the study of single nutrient or food toward total diet and dietary patterns in recent years. Mechanisms of action proposed to explain these consistent relationships include inflammatory processes, oxidative stress and brain-derived neurothrophic factor (BDNF). A limitation associated with many of the studies reviewed is that significant portions were correlational and/or epidemiological, thereby limiting conclusions about causation. Further studies with emphasis on the investigation of the underlying mechanism and applying values are necessary to confirm the findings obtained in these initial studies.

Key words: depression, diet, nutrition, dietary patterns