In the new study, researchers used data from an ongoing 6-year, multicenter randomized trial in Spain to analyze the effects of the Mediterranean Diet on men. 55-75 years old and women 60-75 years old who are overweight or obese. 6,545 individuals without cardiovascular or endocrine disease at baseline were included in the present analysis. A Framingham-based REGICOR function cardiovascular risk score was calculated for each person, dividing participants into low (LR), moderate (MR) or high/very high (HR) cardiovascular risk groups. . Depression status was assessed by questionnaire at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up.
At baseline, women in the HR group showed a higher incidence of depression than the LR women (OR 1.78 95% CI 1.26-2.50). In addition, among all participants with total baseline cholesterol below 160 mg/mL, MR and HR individuals showed higher rates of depression than LR (MR: OR 1.77 95% CI 1, 13-2.77; HR: OR 2.83 95% CI 1.25-6.42) .
In contrast, among participants with total cholesterol of 280 mg/mL or higher, those with MR and HR had a lower risk of depression than LR (MR: OR 0.26 95% CI 0.07-0) .98; HR: OR 0.23 95% CI 0.05-0.95). After two years, during the time all individuals were instructed to follow the Mediterranean Diet as part of the trial, participants had, on average, reduced their depression scores, with a reduction the most for MR and HR participants with high baseline cholesterol levels.
The authors concluded that high and very high cardiovascular risk is associated with depressive symptoms, especially in women, and the role of other factors, such as adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Hai, deserves further study.
The authors add: “High cardiovascular risk, especially in women, is associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly.”
Source: Eurekalert
