Dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in a Taiwanese population aged 53 years and over: Results from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the associations between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in a Taiwanese population aged 53 years and over, and evaluate the longitudinal impacts of dietary patterns on depressive symptoms. Methods: Data were from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging. Result: Depressive symptoms were identified in 23% of adults aged >= 53 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a Western dietary pattern, which was characterized by frequent consumption of meat/poultry and eggs, with infrequent consumption of fish, beans/legumes, vegetables and fruit, was cross-sectionally associated with a high risk of depressive symptoms (P < 0.05). A traditional dietary pattern, which was characterized by frequent consumption of meat/poultry and eggs with infrequent consumption of fish, increased by 60% the risk of depressive symptoms during the subsequent 8 years (P < 0.05). A healthy dietary pattern, which was characterized by frequent consumption of fish, vegetables and fruits, was not significantly associated with subsequent depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Dietary patterns correlate with depressive symptoms in a Taiwanese population aged 53 years and over. The Western and traditional dietary patterns, characterized by frequent consumption of meat/poultry and eggs, and infrequent consumption of fish, increased the risk of current and subsequent depressive symptoms.