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Study links high sugar consumption with depression risk in postmenopausal women

Higher consumption of dietary added sugars and a progressively higher dietary glycemic index were associated with increased risk for depression among postmenopausal women.

“Depression has been found to be associated in cross-sectional studies with the consumption of sweet foods among middle-aged women, of ready-made and snack foods among college students, and of high-[glycemic index] foods among homebound elderly individuals. However, the relationship between depression and carbohydrate consumption is likely to be bidirectional, so associations in cross-sectional studies do not provide evidence of causality,” James E Gangwisch, PhD, of Columbia University, and colleagues wrote.

James E. Gangwisch

To assess associations between dietary glycemic index, glycemic load and other carbohydrate measures — including added sugars, glucose, sucrose, lactose, fructose, starch and carbohydrate — and depression among postmenopausal women, researchers evaluated data for women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study from 1994 to 1998 (n = 87,618) and at the 3-year follow-up (n = 69,954).

Fully adjusted analysis indicated progressively higher dietary glycemic index was associated with increasing odds for incident depression (OR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.09-1.37; P = .0032).

Increased risk for depression was also associated with progressively higher consumption of dietary added sugars (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07-1.41; P = .0029).

Higher consumption of lactose, fiber, non-juice fruit and vegetables was significantly associated with lower risk for incident depression, while consumption of non-whole/refined grain was associated with increased risk.

“The results from this study suggest that high-[glycemic index] diets could be a risk factor for depression in postmenopausal women. Randomized trials should be undertaken to examine the question of whether diets rich in low-[glycemic index] foods, such as legumes, cereals high in viscous sticky fibers, and temperate-climate fruit, could serve as treatments and primary preventive measures for depression in menopausal women,” the researchers concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

Editor's Note: On Aug. 27, we corrected language in the headline and fifth paragraph to more accurately reflect associations between higher sugar consumption and risk for depression. The Editors regret this error.