Calorie restrictions and low-fat diet could reduce depression in adults with cardiometabolic risk: Study

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that low-fat diets and calorie restriction were linked to modest reductions in depression symptoms in people with higher cardiometabolic risk.

Studies have shown that people who follow healthy eating habits, traditional diets like the Mediterranean diet and other diets like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, and diets with anti-inflammatory properties have a lower chance of developing depression. The research so far has a number of limitations, though, many of which are related to the difficulties that come with researching food.

Although the precise processes via which dietary modifications might affect mood are yet unknown, the gut microbiota is probably heavily implicated. One possible alternative therapy for anxiety and depression is dietary modifications. Thus, this study by Eman Abukmail and team assessed how dietary modifications affect anxiety and depression.

PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PsycINFO were searched for this study from the beginning until December 12, 2024. Analysis of forward and backward citations and trial registries was completed on January 3, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessed how dietary recommendations with or without food availability affected depression and/or anxiety over a period of 3 months or more when compared to no particular dietary recommendations or active treatments. 

There were 25 RCTs in all. Dietary advise on calorie restriction may ameliorate depression symptoms in persons with high cardiometabolic risk compared to no particular dietary guidance (standardized mean difference [SMD], −0.23 [95% CI, −0.38 to −0.09]; medium confidence).

In persons with high cardiometabolic risk, reduced-fat diets may also have very minor impacts on depression symptoms (SMD, −0.03 [CI, −0.04 to −0.01]; medium confidence). Clinical or methodological variability and research constraints reduced the evidence on anxiety, other diets, and diet comparisons with active comparisons.

Overall, although there was little change and little confidence in the results, calorie restriction and low-fat diets may help persons with increased cardiometabolic risk experience fewer depression symptoms. There is little data on alternative diets, comparisons to active therapies, and other results.

Source:

Abukmail, E., Pradeep, N. K., Ahmed, S., & Albarqouni, L. (2025). Moderate- to long-term effect of dietary interventions for depression and anxiety : A systematic review and meta-analysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03016