Study finds Mediterranean diet improves depression symptoms in young men

Young men with poor diets have significantly improved depression symptoms after switching to a healthy Mediterranean diet, a new study sho.

Depression is a common mental health condition that affects around 1 million Australians each ye.

The 12-week randomized controlled trial, conducted by researchers at the University of Technology Sydney, was recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutriti.

The study is the first randomized clinical trial to assess the effects of a Mediterranean diet on depressive symptoms in young men (18-25 years old), said lead investigator Jessica Bayes, a doctoral candidate at UTS Heal.

"We were surprised that these young people were so open to adopting a new diet," Bayes sa.

"This suggests that physicians and psychologists should consider referring depressed young people to a nutritionist or dietitian as an important part of the treatment of clinical depression," she sa.

This research contributes to the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry, which seeks to explore the impact of specific nutrients, foods and dietary patterns on mental heal.

"The main focus is to improve dietary quality of fresh whole grains while reducing the intake of 'fast' foods, sugar and processed red meat," Bayes sa.

"Scientifically, we think food affects mood for many reaso.

"To have beneficial microbes, we need to provide them with fiber, which is found in legumes, fruits and vegetables," she sa.

About 30 percent of people with depression do not respond adequately to standard treatments for major depressive disorder, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressan.

"Nearly all of the participants stuck with the program, and many were keen to continue the diet after the study ended, showing how effective, tolerable and worthwhile they found the intervention," Bayes sa.