ArticleBMC public health2025
Plant-based diets especially healthy ones are negatively associated with depression: a cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Food- and Nutrient-Based Dietary Patterns and Depression in Korean Adults: A Machine Learning Approach Using KNHANES 2016-2021.Nutrients · 2026Article
- Association between plant-based diet indices and depressive symptoms among South Korean adults: a cross-sectional study using the 2014 and 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.Clinical nutrition research · 2026Article
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Abstract
backgroundDiet was a potentially modifiable factor in the prevention of depression. We aimed to investigate associations of an overall plant-based diet index (PDI), a healthful PDI (hPDI), and an unhealthful PDI (uPDI) with the prevalence of depression. We hypothesized that plant-based diets especially the hPDI may be associated with lower depression, whereas uPDI would increase the depression.
methodsThis is a cross-sectional study using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2018. Diet was assessed by 24-hour recalls. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Odds ratios (ORs) and percentage changes (%) were calculated by logistic regression and linear regression, respectively.
resultsAmong the 31,622 participants aged 20 years or older, the age-standardized prevalence of major depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10) was 8.8% (n = 2,744). The overall PDI was not associated with odds of depression (OR comparing extreme quintiles 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-1.07; p
conclusionsPlant-based diets, especially when they are enriched with healthier plant foods, may be beneficial for primary prevention of depression. However, plant-based diets that emphasize less healthy plant foods are associated with higher depression levels among US adults.
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