Impact of Dietary Interventions on Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This review aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary interventions on depressive symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and daily functioning in adolescents and young adults with depression. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL on 17 August 2024. Participants aged 13-40 years with depression, receiving dietary interventions, and enrolled in randomised controlled trials published in English after 2000 were included. For the meta-analysis of depressive symptoms, pooled Hedges' g was calculated. Five studies involving 288 participants were included in this review, with three showing significant improvements in depressive symptoms favouring the intervention group. Three studies were included in the meta-analysis, which demonstrated a nonsignificant effect (Hedges' g = -0.45; 95% CI: -1.29, 0.39; p = 0.2946) and high heterogeneity (I2 = 88%). One study reported significant improvements in QOL, and another showed enhancements in executive function, both favouring the intervention group. All included studies reported high adherence to the intervention or low dropout rates. Dietary interventions are highly acceptable to adolescents and young adults with depression and might help improve their depressive symptoms and QOL. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously due to high heterogeneity and the limited number of included trials.