Red and Processed Meat Consumption and Risk of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Daniele Nucci, Cristina Fatigoni, Andrea Amerio, Anna Odone and Vincenza Gianfredi
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Daniele Nucci: Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
Cristina Fatigoni: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Andrea Amerio: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Anna Odone: School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
Vincenza Gianfredi: School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with more than 264 million people affected. On average, depression first appears during the late teens to mid-20s as result of a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis is to assess the association between red and processed meat intake and depression (both incident and prevalent). This systematic review was conducted according to the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Relevant papers published through March 2020 were identified by searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus. All analyses were conducted using ProMeta3 software. A critical appraisal was conducted. Finally, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall effect size (ES) of depression for red and processed meat intake was 1.08 [(95% CI = 1.04; 1.12), p -value < 0.001], based on 241,738 participants. The results from our meta-analysis showed a significant association between red and processed meat intake and risk of depression. The presented synthesis will be useful for health professionals and policy makers to better consider the effect of diet on mental health status.

Keywords: depression; red meat; processed meat; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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