Interesting study from scientists at the University of Technology Sydney, published in the peer-reviewed, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Here’s the gist:
A group of young men (18-25 years old) took part in a 12 week trial, to look at the effectiveness of the Mediterranean Diet in treating symptoms of moderate to severe depression.
This kind of study is tricky, because it’s difficult to know what the placebo effect is.
After all, you can’t blind participants.
They know they’re eating a Mediterranean Diet, and the control group knows it’s not.
So the placebo effect is particularly acute in studies re: mood and diet.
However, the researchers did create a control group — one receiving “befriending therapy,” which is a type of social support.
Researchers found that, at the end of the 12 weeks, the MD group scored significantly better on quality of life measures and showed reduced symptoms of depression, compared to the placebo group.
In other words, the study suggests that the Mediterranean Diet is superior than befriending social support at reducing symptoms of depression and improving quality of life.
That’s the finding.
News Atlas has a really nice review of why the Mediterranean Diet might theoretically improve mood, and of course, it’s part of the growing trend of nutritional psychiatry.
However, keep in mind, that this study cannot say: “The Mediterranean Diet is likely to reduce symptoms of depression in young men.”
It is, in comparison to befriending social support therapy.
The Mediterranean Diet, though, does seem to have enormous health benefits and potential benefits for mood.
However, it’s so difficult to control for the placebo effect re: mood.
I strain to mention that because a) it’s important to be rigorous and a lot of headlines are running with “It reduces depression in young men!” which is disingenuous and b) if you’ve tried the MD, and it hasn’t helped, I want to say you’re not alone.
For some, it seems to really help. For others (including myself), I’ve found little difference.
But I do use tons and tons of olive oil, personally. Just for my health in general and because it’s delicious. And I fish it up, whole grain it up, and eschew processed foods when possible. Just because it’s healthy (But of course, always talk to your doctor about any diet).
[Painting: Olive Trees, Dali. Note the town of Cadaques, Spain yonder, where Dali lived in summer and a source of inspiration throughout life. And, accordingly, a popular pilgrimage of artists of every kind].
