A study in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that older women adhering closely to a Mediterranean diet may have a lower risk of depressive symptoms. Fish consumption and monounsaturated oils, typical of this diet, were key factors linked to reduced depression risk. The Italian NutBrain study involved 325 men and 473 women aged 65โ97.
Those with higher Mediterranean diet scores were less likely to experience depressive symptoms, particularly women. Increased fish intake correlated with lower depression risk, especially among women, with each gram of fish consumed per day associated with a 2% reduction in risk. Monounsaturated fatty acids in the diet were also linked to a lower risk of depressive symptoms in women. These findings suggest the potential mental health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, particularly for older women.