Surprising Link: Artificially Sweetened Ultraprocessed Foods and Depression in Women
New research suggests a connection between consuming certain ultraprocessed foods, like pizza and ready-to-eat meals, and an increased likelihood of experiencing depression in women However, it is important to note that this association does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship
Join CNNs Eat, But Better: Mediterranean Style and discover a delectable expert-approved eating regimen that enhances your lifelong well-being. Recent research suggests that consuming excessive amounts of ultraprocessed food and beverages, particularly those containing artificial sweeteners, might be associated with an increased risk of developing depression.
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The study found that individuals who consume 9 portions or more per day of ultra-processed foods have a 50% higher risk of depression compared to those who consume 4 portions or less. According to Gunter Kuhnle, a professor at the University of Reading, these ultra-processed foods include prepackaged soups, sauces, frozen pizza, ready-to-eat meals, as well as pleasure foods like hot dogs, French fries, sodas, and various sweets that contain artificial sweeteners.
Study coauthor, Dr. Andrew T Chan, a Daniel K. Podolsky professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, stated that our study specifically examined the connection between food consumption and the subsequent risk of experiencing a new episode of depression.
Examples of ultraprocessed foods comprise hot dogs, sausages, French fries, sodas, commercially made cookies, cakes, candies, ice cream, and various foods that incorporate artificial sweeteners.
"Alternatively, individuals with chronic depression may experience a deterioration in their condition if they consume ultraprocessed food," stated Chan, the chief of the clinical and translational epidemiology unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Upon examining particular ultraprocessed foods, referred to as UPFs, the researchers discovered that only those containing artificial sweeteners were linked to a higher likelihood of depression in the participants, all of whom were women, according to Kuhnle.
"This is an interesting finding as it suggests the association between UPF intake and depression is driven by a single factor - artificial sweeteners," he said.
Whats the link?
Why would such foods be associated with the onset of depression? For one, there is a known link between ultraprocessed foods and chronic inflammation, Chan said.
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Inflammation serves as the underlying factor for numerous chronic illnesses. Notably, research has established a connection between ultraprocessed food consumption and the development of colorectal cancer in men, as well as heart disease and premature mortality in both genders. Marion Nestle, the esteemed Paulette Goddard professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, emphasized the existence of countless studies that directly link ultraprocessed food to adverse health outcomes, including obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality in an interview with CNN in 2022.
A study conducted in 2014 discovered a correlation between the consumption of diet sodas and diet fruit drinks and depression. Moreover, individuals who incorporated artificial sweeteners into their coffee and tea were more likely to develop depression. Additionally, there is a connection between dementia and diet. Based on a recent study in 2022, if more than 20% of a person's daily caloric intake is derived from ultraprocessed foods, their risk of experiencing cognitive decline increases by approximately 28%. To provide context, for an average 2,000-calorie daily diet, this equates to 400 calories. In comparison, a combination of a small order of fries and a regular cheeseburger from McDonald's contains a total of 530 calories.
, has been found between ultraprocessed food and disturbance of the gut microbiome," stated Chan. "This connection is significant as it suggests a potential way in which ultraprocessed food may contribute to depression. Recent research has indicated that gut microbes play a role in mood regulation by metabolizing and producing proteins that have an impact on brain activity."
The diets of almost 32,000 middle-aged women were analyzed in a recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. These women are participants in the Nurses Health Study II, which is a long-term investigation into the health of women. Since no men were included in the study, the findings cannot be applied to the general population.
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ADHD has been identified as a potential risk factor for the development of mental disorders and an increased likelihood of attempted suicide, according to a recent study. The study is observational in nature, meaning that it can only establish a correlation between the onset of depression and the consumption of ultraprocessed foods. Therefore, it cannot exclude the possibility of "reverse causality," as mentioned by Dr. David Katz, an expert in preventive and lifestyle medicine who was not involved in the research.
It is plausible that the initial discomforts associated with growing depression may encourage individuals to rely more heavily on sweet beverages and ultraprocessed foods, as these items provide temporary comfort, albeit fleetingly, stated Katz. He further suggests that depression could be the cause of increased consumption of ultraprocessed foods, rather than the reverse. Katz, the founder of the evidence-based lifestyle medicine nonprofit True Health Initiative, also posits that depression and a higher intake of "junk" and "comfort" foods may mutually reinforce each other.
"An individual experiencing early depression is prone to compromising dietary restraint and consuming more comfort and junk foods. This deterioration in mood may subsequently worsen one's diet, resulting in a downward spiral," explained Dr. Paul Keedwell, a consultant psychiatrist and fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr. Keedwell, who was not involved in the study, also noted that it is challenging to distinguish the specific influence of diet on depression risk, considering other well-known risk factors such as a family history of depression, high stress levels, and a lack of social support.
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The researchers accounted for various other factors that could potentially contribute to depression, including age, body mass index (BMI), total calorie intake, menopausal hormone therapy, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, pain, and other conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Keith Frayn, Emeritus Professor of Human Metabolism at the University of Oxford, who was not part of the study, commented on the extensive range of factors associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), such as higher BMI, increased smoking, and reduced physical activity. This highlights the numerous potential confounding factors involved.
However, the authors seem to have meticulously accounted for these factors, and the connection between artificial sweeteners and depression is quite prominent," stated Frayn.
"This contributes to the increasing apprehension regarding the impact of artificial sweeteners on cardiometabolic health," he asserted. "Confirmation of the association with depression and further investigation is necessary to understand the mechanisms through which it may occur."
