Citrus may play role in protecting mental health

Greater intake of citrus could help mitigate the risk of depression.

In a study published in Microbiome, investigators used data from the Nurses’ Health Study II to examine the relationship between citrus intake, gut microbiome composition and the risk of depression among more than 32,000 women between 2003 and 2017. The women completed validated food frequency questionnaires, answering questions regarding their citrus consumption.

The investigators found that the women with greater citrus intake had a 22% lower risk of developing depression and a higher prevalence of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii — which was inversely associated with depression.

Although the investigators were unable to establish a causal relationship between citrus intake and depression risk, the findings demonstrated how the gut microbiome could help modulate the effects of dietary behaviors on mental health.

Read more: Microbiome

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