Alcohol intake, wine consumption and the development of depression: the PREDIMED study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to prospectively assess the association between moderate alcohol intake, specifically wine, and the incidence of depression in high-risk older adults.
Results Summary
Moderate wine consumption (2-7 drinks/week) was significantly associated with a lower risk of incident depression, while heavy drinking appeared to increase risk. The hazard ratio for wine drinkers was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.47-0.98) compared to abstainers.
Population
5,505 high-risk men and women aged 55-80 years, initially free of depression or alcohol-related problems.
Effective Dosage
5-15 g/day of alcohol (approximately 2-7 drinks/week of wine).
Duration
Up to seven years.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moderate alcohol intake within the range of 5 to 15 g/day | decrease | incident depression | 5,505 high-risk men and women (55 to 80 y) of the PREDIMED Trial initially free of depression or a history of depression, and without any history of alcohol-related problems | hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.72 (0.53 to 0.98) versus abstainers | significantly associated with lower risk | #1 |
Wine consumption in the range of two to seven drinks/week | decrease | depression | 5,505 high-risk men and women (55 to 80 y) of the PREDIMED Trial initially free of depression or a history of depression, and without any history of alcohol-related problems | HR (95% CI) = 0.68 (0.47 to 0.98) | significantly associated with lower rates | #2 |
Moderate consumption of wine | decrease | depression | - | - | may reduce the incidence | #3 |
Heavy drinking | increase | depression | - | - | seem to be at higher risk | #4 |
BACKGROUND: Alcoholic beverages are widely consumed. Depression, the most prevalent mental disorder worldwide, has been related to alcohol intake. We aimed to prospectively assess the association between alcohol intake and incident depression using repeated measurements of alcohol intake. METHODS: We followed-up 5,505 high-risk men and women (55 to 80 y) of the PREDIMED Trial for up to seven years. Participants were initially free of depression or a history of depression, and did not have any history of alcohol-related problems. A 137-item validated food frequency questionnaire administered by a dietician was repeated annually to assess alcohol intake. Participants were classified as incident cases of depression when they reported a new clinical diagnosis of depression, and/or initiated the use of antidepressant drugs. Cox regression analyses were fitted over 23,655 person-years. RESULTS: Moderate alcohol intake within the range of 5 to 15 g/day was significantly associated with lower risk of incident depression (hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.72 (0.53 to 0.98) versus abstainers). Specifically, wine consumption in the range of two to seven drinks/week was significantly associated with lower rates of depression (HR (95% CI) = 0.68 (0.47 to 0.98)). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate consumption of wine may reduce the incidence of depression, while heavy drinkers seem to be at higher risk.