A JAMA Psychiatry study of more than 900 adults found that higher soft drink consumption was associated with an approximately 8% greater likelihood of major depression diagnosis and greater symptom severity overall, with a roughly 16% higher risk among women and no significant association among men.
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Cross-sectional analysis relating self-reported soft drink intake, clinical depression diagnosis, and symptom severity with stool microbiome data.
Eggerthella is a gut bacterium that has been linked to inflammation and has been found in greater abundance among people diagnosed with depression.
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Eggerthella has been associated in research with inflammatory states and observed at higher levels in some studies of people with depression.
Beneficial gut bacteria tend to thrive on fiber-rich foods and help produce compounds that reduce inflammation and protect the gut lining.
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Dietary fiber supports microbial diversity and production of anti-inflammatory metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids.