Research
Mixed
An adjunctive dietary improvement program using the 'ModiMedDiet' significantly improves symptoms in patients with major depressive episodes compared to social support.
If you are struggling with depression, consider adding a dietary improvement program alongside your current treatment. The 'ModiMedDiet' focuses on whole foods, fish, and olive oil, and has shown large benefits in treating depression. It is feasible even when you feel fatigued.
StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
The results were notable, with the intervention group demonstrating significantly greater improvement between baseline and 12 weeks than the control group with a very large effect size (Cohen's d −1.16: 95% CI: −1.73, −0.59) and a number needed to treat (NNT) of 4.1
Why this rating
Based on the SMILES study, a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which is the gold standard for establishing causality, despite limitations in sample size and blinding.
Source
Nutritional Psychiatry: Where to Next?
Felice N. Jacka · EBioMedicine · 2017
DOI 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.02.020
narrative_reviewCited 240×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern (rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish, and olive oil) is associated with a reduced likelihood of developing depression.Good
- Specific nutraceuticals (SAMe, omega-3, methylfolate, Vitamin D) show efficacy as adjunctive therapies for depression, while others (zinc, folic acid, vitamin C, tryptophan) have limited support.Good
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →