Nuno Santos, researcher at ciTechCare, nutritionist and lecturer at the School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, published an opinion article in the Diário de Leiria on April 21st where he presents a research project that started in February which aims to understand how food can influence the treatment of major depression. This type of depression is frequent in Portugal, affecting more than 6% of the population annually, and the numbers are expected to be higher in the current context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The usual treatment for depression includes the use of medications and psychological counselling. However, previous studies have shown that food may be associated with a lower or greater risk of developing depression and, even after diagnosis, food choices may have the ability to change the prognosis of the disease. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the effect of food in the treatment of major depression and to understand the potential of food in reducing inflammatory processes, as well as its impact in the treatment of depression. The study is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and carried out in partnership with the Faculty of Research and Development Association of Medicine at the University of Lisbon with the collaboration of the Centro Hospitalar de Leiria and the Santa Maria and Beatriz Ângelo Hospitals in Lisbon.

More information HERE (edition 21 April 2021).