Assessment of dietary habits of patients with recurrent depressive disorders

Aim. The aim of this study was evaluation of selected dietary habits of patients with recurrent depressive disorders. Methods. The study included 150 patients (75 patients suffering from recurrent depressive disorders. and 75 healthy people aged 18-64 years). The assessment of dietary habits was carried out by using a food frequency questionnaire. Results. It has been shown that in the compared groups of women, patients with depression consumed significantly less groats (p<0.001), rice (p=0.02), red meat (p<0.01), fish (p<0.01), vegetables (p<0.001), fruits (p<0.01) and wine (p<0.001) in comparison with women without depression, and they were significantly more likely to consume wheat-rye bread (p=0.03), cheese (p=0.02), butter (p=0.03), cream (p<0.01), lard (p<0.001), coffee (p=0.03) and sugar (p=0.02) in comparison with women without depression. Statistically significant differences between the two groups of men were diagnosed in the frequent intake of lard (p<0.001) and less frequent vegetable oils (p<0.01), beer (p=0.01), and fast food (p<0.01) for men with depression compared with men in the control group. Conclusions. In the treatment of patients with depression during the declared change of diet, the need for nutrition education on the principles of rational nutrition should be taken into attention, including the selection of appropriate food groups in order to ensure an optimal supply of all necessary to the proper functioning of the body's nutrients.