Evidence Hub

Association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in Chinese adults

Guo S, Sun X, Huang K, Pan C, Liu X, Wang W, Ning F, Xu J et al.

Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 2026

2,956 participants

Abstract

Background and objectives: This cross-sectional study explored the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older individuals in China.

Methods and study design: A total of 2,956 individuals aged 45-74 years were included in the current data analysis, based on a community-based cross-sectional study from Qingdao, China. Data for this study were derived from field surveys conducted from August 2009 to November 2010. Their mean age was 57.2 ± 8.46 years, and 62.4% were women. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ). Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the validated Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were conducted to examine the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms.

Results: Of the participants, 12.4% had depressive symptoms. These participants were younger, were more likely to be smokers, had a higher body mass index, and had lower income and education levels compared with individuals without depressive symptoms. Four dietary patterns were identified: Balanced, Animal-Pickled vegetables, High sugar-Alcohol, and Animal-Seafood-Egg dietary patterns. The Balanced (odds ratio = 0.53, p < 0.01) and Animal-Seafood-Egg (odds ratio = 0.74, p < 0.01) dietary patterns were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 2,956 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free