Pass the salt, please … or maybe not? A study published this week in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that frequently adding salt to food is associated with an elevated risk of depression and anxiety.
Luyi Zhu, of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, and colleagues collected data from 276,138 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank who reported not making any significant changes in their diet in the five years prior to enrolling. At baseline, the UK Biobank participants were asked: “Do you add salt to your foods? (Do not include salt used in cooking).” Responses included never/rarely, sometimes, usually, and always.
The researchers followed the individuals from baseline (2006 to 2010) until their first diagnosis of depression or anxiety, death, they left the study, or May 1, 2023—whichever occurred first. The median follow-up period was 14 years; over the follow-up, 10,486 individuals developed depression and 10,786 developed an anxiety disorder.
After adjusting for demographic (age, race, etc.), lifestyle (drinking, smoking, etc.), and clinical (weight, hypertension, etc.) variables, Zhu and colleagues calculated that compared with individuals who never/rarely added salt:
- Individuals who sometimes added salt had a 10% increased risk of depression and an 8% increased risk of anxiety.
- Those who usually added salt had a 19% increased risk of depression and an 8% increased risk of anxiety.
- Those who always added salt had a 45% increased risk of depression and a 24% increased risk of anxiety.
The researchers also found that an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables could mitigate the depression and anxiety risks of copious salt addition. “[I]ndividuals who have a sufficient intake of vegetables and fruits are likely to consume fewer processed foods, partially explaining the observed phenomenon,” they wrote. “Furthermore, numerous studies have affirmed the protective effects of the inherent nutritional components in vegetables and fruits against anxiety and depression.”
For related information, see the Psychiatric News Special Report “Using Nutrition as a Therapeutic Modality.”
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/towfiqu ahamed)
Don't miss out! To learn about newly posted articles in Psychiatric News, please sign up here.
