May is National Mental Health Month in the U.S., and in recognition several of this month’s posts will address mental health topics.

In 2015 a group of researchers associated with a number of universities including Columbia, Duke, the University of Minnesota, NYU, Stony Brook University and UC-Davis published a prospective cohort study examining the high glycemic diet as a possible risk factor for depression in post-menopausal women. The research group examined data from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, which included over 80,000 women enrolled at over 40 clinical centers across the U.S.

Participants in the study completed a food frequency questionnaire at baseline, which consisted of 145 items. Participants also completed the Burnam 8-item questionnaire which measured depressive symptoms, both at baseline and then again at 3 year follow-up.

Results of the study showed that a higher glycemic index diet was associated with increasing odds of depression incidence in this group of post-menopausal women. In addition, researchers found that added sugars were strongly associated with depression incidence.

There were some other interesting findings of the study. Increased consumption of lactose, a sugar found in milk, was associated with significantly lower odds for depression incidence. Lactose is a lower glycemic index sugar. Also, both higher dietary fiber content and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables were also associated with lower odds for depression.

The glycemic index (GI) ranks carbohydrates on a scale of 0 to 100, based on how they raise glucose levels after eating them. Glucose is given a score of 100. GI scores for some common foods for comparison purposes include 36 (apples), 13 (peanuts), 56 (potato chips), and 111 (baked russet potatoes, a favorite of Idahoans), based on a standard serving size. 

It has been established that diets high in sugars and refined starches are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and increased inflammation, and it is perhaps through this relationship that the risk for depression is increased. 

Depression is a common problem world-wide. The World Health Organization estimates as many as 300 million adults suffer from depression, and it is more common in women. This well-designed study incorporates a large group of women across multiple study sites in the U.S. The results would seem applicable to a large group of post-menopausal women. Monitoring and reducing the glycemic index of one’s daily diet appears to be a simple way to lower the risk for developing depression.

(Source- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2015; 102)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.