Harvard Doctors Discover a Link Between a Certain Type of Diet, Depression, and Frailty

[OctoberRed]

An inflammatory diet often has a low intake of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods while having a high consumption of commercially baked goods, fried foods, and fatty meats.

The impact of dietary inflammation on the development of frailty and other health problems may be more pronounced in middle-aged and older people who are depressed.

According to recent research published in The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, there is a link between depression, diet, and the development of frailty. Frailty affects 10-15% of elderly adults and often co-occurs with other medical conditions, such as depression. It is characterized as an identifiable state of heightened vulnerability brought on by a loss in function across multiple physiological systems. The development of frailty is thought to be significantly influenced by diet.

Previous studies have shown a correlation between an inflammatory diet, which includes artificial trans fats (like partially hydrogenated oil), refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats, and the risk of developing frailty. However, this is one of the first studies to attempt to understand the impact of depression on dietary inflammation and frailty.

The researchers hoped to determine if those who experience depressive symptoms are more prone to developing frailty in response to dietary inflammation. The Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort provided the data used in the study. The 1,701 non-frail individuals provided information on their diet and depressive symptoms at the start of the study. They were followed for about 11 years when frailty status was reassessed.

The research discovered a link between an inflammatory diet and an elevated risk of frailty, which was somewhat greater among individuals with depressive symptoms. Researchers believe that since people who experience depressive symptoms often have greater levels of inflammation, adding dietary inflammation on top of that might hasten the onset of frailty.

Courtney L Millar, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellow, Marcus Institute of Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, and Harvard Medical School, is the lead author. “This study found that depressive symptoms may exacerbate the development of frailty in response to consuming an inflammatory diet. This suggests that consuming a diet rich in anti-inflammatory compounds (e.g., fiber and plant-based compounds called flavonoids) may help prevent the development of frailty,” Dr. Millar said.

“Our exploratory data also suggests that when middle-aged and older adults consume a pro-inflammatory diet, they are more likely to newly develop depressive symptoms and frailty at the same time rather than develop either condition alone,” she added.

This research follows two prior studies conducted by Dr. Millar, one published in May 2022 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that showed that consuming a Mediterranean-style diet may prevent the development of frailty, and one published in February 2022 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that showed a pro-inflammatory diet increased the risk of frailty development.

“This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between dietary inflammation, depression, and frailty,” Dr. Millar said. “For those with depression, it may be even more important to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber, flavonoids as well as other dietary antioxidants.”

[siablo14]

Always have some shredded carrots and dice cucumber as a side when I am eating dinner.

[4truth]

Seems like this would be obvious but so many of my friends have just taken the view that all of the aches and pains they suffer are just normal aging for people in their 60's. They are miserable, limit activities and see no reason to change their diet or do any exercise.

[Shadoww702]

Always have some shredded carrots and dice cucumber as a side when I am eating dinner.

U always eat good. One of these days I need to get a copy of your recipe's...

[siablo14]

U always eat good. One of these days I need to get a copy of your recipe's...

Will do....

[Shadoww702]

Always have some shredded carrots and dice cucumber as a side when I am eating dinner.

Man I work with a guy from Africa and he eats like u do. He's 70 years old and makes 20 years old look slow and lazy!

Dude even in better shape then me!!! I'm like WTF??? Dude solid inside and out.

[siablo14]

Man I work with a guy from Africa and he eats like u do. He's 70 years old and makes 20 years old look slow and lazy!

Dude even in better shape then me!!! I'm like WTF??? Dude solid inside and out.

That's the thing. I never set out to eat that way because I like the taste of fast food too but when I worked 6 days of the work, I began to note how I felt the following day and the dinner that I ate the evening before. I noted that eating home cooked meal with raw shredded better had me feeling much better the day after so that's why I eat that way. It is what makes my body feel the best.

[OctoberRed]

Always have some shredded carrots and dice cucumber as a side when I am eating dinner.

You and me both!

[Shadoww702]

That's the thing. I never set out to eat that way because I like the taste of fast food too but when I worked 6 days of the work, I began to note how I felt the following day and the dinner that I ate the evening before. I noted that eating home cooked meal with raw shredded better had me feeling much better the day after so that's why I eat that way. It is what makes my body feel the best.

I don't understand what u mean by raw shredded???

I assume u buy it raw and various ways shredded???

So whats the healthiest??? Broiled, fried, grilled, steamed, microwave (lol), stove, etc...

[Shadoww702]

Your food always look good but healthy? And I never get those 2 at the same time.