Research Results Call Consumption Of Vegetable Milk Can Increase Depression Risk

JAKARTA - In a recent study, researchers found that drinking plant-based alternative milk, such as soy milk, oat, and almonds, was associated with an increased risk of depression, while semi-skim cow milk could offer protection benefits.

Reporting from Medical Daily, Thursday, February 20, dairy products are an important part of human diet, consumed by more than 6 billion people worldwide. Milk is a nutrient-intensive diet rich in lactose, lipids, proteins, and minerals, all of which play an important role in maintaining human health.

In a recent study, the researchers examined the impact of various types of milk on mental health among 357,568 UK Biobank participants. Participants who did not experience anxiety or depression at the beginning of the study were followed by about 13.5 years. During the follow-up period, a total of 13,065 people were diagnosed with depression and 13,339 participants were diagnosed with anxiety.

After being analyzed, the researchers found that drinking pure milk is associated with a 16 percent lower risk of anxiety. Semi-skim milk is associated with a 12 percent lower risk of depression and a 10 percent lower risk of anxiety.

However, skim milk does not show a significant effect on the risk of depression or anxiety. Further analysis shows a 17 percent lower risk of depression and 29 percent lower risk of anxiety for those who consume semi-skim milk.

"After Bonferroni's correction, the analysis of the MR 2 sample revealed a causal relationship that has the potential to protect between semi-skim milk and depression," the researchers noted.

Interestingly, plant-based alternatives are associated with a 14 percent higher risk of depression. The researchers explained that the benefits of semi-skim milk for mental health are due to higher content of unsaturated fatty acids compared to full skim milk, which offers greater brain protection, which has the potential to reduce the risk of depression and anxiety.

"These findings suggest that semi-skim milk may have a protective effect on this mental health condition, which presents new prospects for dietary intervention," the researchers wrote in a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

Along with the growing popularity of plant-based milk alternatives, research shows that vegetable milk may not always be the healthiest choice. Many of these products contain additives and refinements, which make them eligible as ultra-processed foods. Research has shown that certain recurrences can change the gut microbiome and increase inflammation of the intestine, which has the potential to increase the risk of colon cancer.