Dietary Patterns and Major Depression: Results from 15,262 Participants (International ALIMENTAL Study)

Background: Different patterns of food consumption may be associated with a differential risk of depression. Differences in dietary patterns between men and women and across different age groups have been reported, but their influence on the risk of depression has not been fully explored. Objectives: To investigate the associations between dietary patterns and risk of depression across sex and age groups to identify vulnerable subpopulations, which may inform targeted prevention and intervention strategies. Methods: The ALIMENTAL study was a cross-sectional, online international survey conducted between 2021 and 2023. Dietary data were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire; depression data were collected using a self-reported validated questionnaire. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify distinct food consumption patterns. Multivariate analyses were then conducted to assess the associations between these patterns and depression, adjusting for multiple potential confounders. Results: Among 15,262 participants without chronic diseases or current psychotropic treatments, 4923 (32.2%) were classified in the depression group. Among those aged 18–34, the PCA-derived factor of ultra-processed foods consumption was significantly associated with increased risk of depression in both sexes with similar odds ratios (women 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.15; 1.27), men 1.21, 95% CI: (1.07–1.18)). In women aged 18–34, the PCA factors for sodas (aOR 1.10, 95% CI: (1.06; 1.95) and canned and frozen foods (aOR 1.10, 95% CI: (1.04; 1.15) were associated with an increased risk of depression. In participants aged 35–54 years, the association between ultra-processed foods and depression was only observed in women (35–54 years: aOR 1.30, 95% CI: (1.20; 1.42), ≥55 years: 1.41, 95% CI: (1.11; 1.79)), with a significant association between a higher adherence to the PCA-derived “healthy diet” factor (e.g., fruits, nuts, green vegetables) and a lower risk of depression (35–54 years: aOR 0.82, 95% CI: (0.75; 0.89), ≥55 years: aOR 0.79, 95% CI: (0.64; 0.97)). Conclusions: These results show significant differences between men and women and between age groups regarding associations between dietary patterns and the risk of depression. These findings can help better target public health interventions.