2 days Ago By Rachel Ann T. Melegrito
Consuming any kind of citrus fruit may reduce the risk of depression, according to a new prospective study. The findings suggest that citrus alters the gut microbiota, specifically by supporting a beneficial gut bacterium called Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), which is associated with a reduced risk of depression.
The study also indicates that flavonoids—compounds found in the peel and juice that give fruits their color and flavor—play a central role in this protective effect. Dr. Raaj Mehta, instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, and corresponding author of the study, told The Epoch Times via email that eating citrus boosts the abundance of F.
prausnitzii, helping regulate neurotransmitters involved in depression. They found that those who consumed more citrus had a 22 percent decreased risk of depression, emphasizing that this protective effect seems specific to citrus, as other fruits, such as apples and bananas, did not demonstrate the same benefit. They found that higher levels of F.
prausnitzii were associated with increased GABA and serotonin scores in this cohort as well, suggesting an inverse relationship with depression. Further investigation revealed that F. prausnitzii enhances a pathway that clinicians are exploring as a potential target for depression treatment.
The S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) cycle 1 pathway was associated with reduced depression when activated. A higher intake of citrus was also linked to an increase in proteins necessary for activating this pathway. Naringenin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, and grapes, is significantly linked to an increased abundance of this protein.
“I would love to see a clinical trial test our hypothesis,” Mehta said. “We urgently need complementary treatments for patients with depression. Medications are one important piece of the puzzle, but they often don’t work or come with significant side effects.
” Though the study focused on grapefruits and oranges, Mehta said there is no reason to believe the benefits are limited to only these citrus fruits. The benefits also appear to apply universally, regardless of factors like age, diet, or lifestyle. For those looking to include citrus in their diet, Mehta wrote, “In our study, we found that the greatest possibility of depression prevention was seen at about 1 serving of citrus per day, which is about one medium orange a day.
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