Scientists find link between vegetarianism and risk of depression

A large meta-analysis has found a link between a vegetarian diet and the risk of depression. Scientists have found a significant increase in depression rates in vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians.

The study by researchers from the German Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and the University of Duisburg-Essen was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Data from 8057 vegetarians and 41,832 people who do not follow a vegetarian diet were analyzed.

Scientists concluded that most often people with depressive symptoms switched to a vegetarian diet after the onset of the disorder.

They explain this by saying that depression can increase the feeling of empathy for animals, or make people pay more attention to their physical health.

Further research is needed to determine the true nature of this relationship.