A study conducted by the Center for Online Biomedical Research states that eating highly processed foods could be linked to depressive symptoms and affect the amount of gray matter in the amygdala and frontal regions of the brain.
This article from the Journal of Affective Disorders also looks at the effects of obesity and how it affects levels of inflammation in the body.
According to a study conducted by CIBER (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red) and the Girona Biomedical Research Institute Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI) found a direct link between the consumption of highly processed foods and depression. In addition, these foods have been observed to negatively affect gray matter volume in the mesocorticolimbic cerebral circulation and induce inflammatory parameters.
The aims of the study on highly processed foods
The purpose of this study is to highlight the potential negative effects that consumption of highly processed foods can have on mental health and brain function. This includes snack foods, sugary drinks, pre-cooked foods, industrial pastries, processed meats, cookies, sweetened dairy products, refined cereals, pizzas or nuggets.
It’s important to note that many of these processed foods tend to have low nutrient densities and high energy concentrations compared to natural foods. Additionally, it’s common for them to be high in saturated and trans fats, added sugars and salt while being deficient in protein, fiber and micronutrients.
In addition, we cannot ignore the fact that these products usually contain carefully selected additives to enhance their sensory properties and imitate the appearance of fresh and natural food. This makes them delicious, irresistible, and potentially addictive options that easily capture our attention.
It is undeniable that depressive disorders are a worrying reality in our society today. These psychiatric disorders are widespread around the world and can have a profound impact on the lives of those affected. In data from the World Health Organization (WHO) about 280 million people live with depression.
The connection between the ultra-powerful and depressive symptoms
The lead researchers of this study, Oren Contreras-RodrÃguez and José Manuel Fernández-Real, explained that their main goal was to establish a link between the consumption of highly processed foods and depressive symptoms. Also provide new data on the association between consumption of these products and gray matter volume in 152 adults.
In addition, they wanted to investigate the implications of the interaction with obesity and also assess whether inflammatory biomarkers play an important role in these earlier associations. “As a working hypothesis, we hypothesized that higher consumption of highly processed foods would be associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms and lower gray matter volume in the amygdala and frontal regions, particularly in obese participants, as these are usually characterized by higher consumption . Ultra processed‘ indicates Contreras-RodrÃguez. And in fact, “The results confirmed our hypothesis‘ said Fernández-Real.
The studied diet with ultra-processed
In this cross-sectional study, 233 people were carefully selected to participate, ultimately resulting in a sample of 152 people who completed the study. In order to analyze the consumption of highly processed foods in detail, a detailed data collection on the diet of these people was carried out over the course of the last year. This information was obtained through frequent dietary questionnaires that have been validated and guarantee their reliability. In addition, the NOVA food classification system was used to determine the level of processing of food and beverages. Finally, the consumption of highly processed products as a percentage of the total diet was also calculated, which is of high relevance.
In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of depressive symptoms was performed to better understand the person’s emotional state. For this purpose, structural magnetic resonance images were made to get a more detailed insight into the brain function. These techniques allowed researchers to take a comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of depression. In this study, various measurements of metabolic parameters and inflammatory biomarkers were performed. The number of white blood cells, the lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and the C-reactive protein were evaluated. This data is important for understanding health status and spotting possible inflammatory issues in the body.
Increased symptoms of depression
An important finding is the link between excessive consumption of highly processed foods and an increase in depression symptoms. In addition, a reduction in the volume of certain brain regions involved in reward processing and conflict control, essential aspects of decision-making, including food choices, has been observed.
It’s really shocking how closely the consumption of these products is linked to depressive symptoms, especially in people suffering from obesity. In this group, which accounts for 58.6% of the participants, depressive symptoms were already present to a greater extent than in non-obese individuals.
Conclusions of the study on highly processed foods
In summary, the results of this research support and go beyond previous findings by establishing a clear link between eating habits and changes in the structure of specific brain networks. These new data are critical to understanding how our diet can affect our brains and provide new insights to improve brain health through appropriate nutritional interventions. Furthermore, it shows that these associations could be dependent on the presence of obesity and the extent of peripheral inflammation.
The research was conducted by two leading CIBER institutions, CIBERSAM in the field of mental health and CIBEROBN in the field of physiopathology of obesity and nutrition. Added to this was the valuable collaboration between researchers from the renowned Barcelona health authority and the renowned Sant Pau research institute. Together they have worked tirelessly to produce solid results and contribute to scientific advances in these areas that are so important to our health.
Reference:
Contreras-Rodriguez, O. et al. “Consumption of highly processed foods is associated with depression, mesocorticolimbic volume and inflammation.” Journal of Mood Disorders (2023)
With information from: https://www.agenciasinc.es/