Association between dietary fibre intake and depressive symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Higher energy-adjusted dietary fibre intake was associated with lower depressive symptoms before the pandemic in both men and women. During the pandemic, however, the protective association persisted only among women. These findings suggest that dietary fibre may offer continued mental health benefits for women even under societal stressors, highlighting its potential as a gender-specific nutritional target for depression prevention.