Possibility of relationship between meal time and risk of developing depression



Previous studies have pointed out that sleep time and lifestyle rhythms affect mental health, but a new study ``The time you eat affects mental health and affects the risk of developing depression.'' research results have been published.

Daytime eating prevents mood vulnerability in night work | PNAS

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2206348119

The Time of Day You Eat Could Make a Difference to Your Mental Health : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-time-of-day-you-eat-could-make-a-difference-to-your-mental-health

The paper was published by a research team led by Sarah Cherappa, a neuroscientist working at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School. 'This discovery may also be useful for people with mental disorders, opening new doors in sleep and circadian behavioral strategies,' said Cerappa.

Over the course of two weeks, the research team conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 19 participants with a simulated night shift. Half of the subjects ate during the day from 5:00 to 19:00 and at night from 19:00 to 5:00 the next day, and the other half ate only during the day. The only difference between the two groups was the timing of their meals. Calories burned, sleep duration, physical activity, and lighting conditions were the same.

The results showed that those who ate during the day and at night experienced a 26% increase in depression and a 16% increase in anxiety compared to baseline. On the other hand, no such changes were seen in the group that ate only during the day.

The research team said, ``We found evidence that meal timing had a moderate to large effect on subjects' depression and anxiety levels, and that this effect was associated with the degree of circadian rhythm deviation. ``This finding suggests the possibility of preventing depression in a shift work environment by considering the timing of meals.''



It is unknown why the timing of meals affects mental health, but it is possible that eating late at night interferes with metabolism and disrupts hormonal balance, causing a shift in circadian rhythm .

In addition, the research team points out the possibility that glucose intolerance seen in subjects who ate at night may be involved. Impaired blood sugar control is considered a risk factor for mood disorders, and depression and obesity may fall into a vicious cycle in which each other increases risk and severity, so the research team says further research is needed. increase.

in Science, Posted by log1i_yk