Fried foods turned out to be harmful not only for digestion
The doctors analyzed data from 140,728 patients. The research team noted that previous studies have established a link between Western eating patterns and mental health problems.
Suspecting that at least some of these may be related to frequent consumption of fried foods, the team compared rates of anxiety and depression with reports of eating behaviors.
Fried foods affect mental health
They found that those who ate a lot of fried foods were more likely to be diagnosed with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Specifically, they found that symptoms increased by 7 to 12% in people who reported eating such foods, and that the greatest risk was associated with eating french fries.
Why fried foods work this way
In investigating why eating such foods may increase the likelihood of mental health problems, the team identified acrylamide (an organic crystalline compound). They tested the effects of acrylamide on danio fish and found that it reduced their desire to explore new territory and decreased their sociability, both signs similar to anxiety and depression in humans.
They also found that acrylamide consumption reduced the expression of the tjp2a gene, which plays a role in blood-brain barrier permeability.
The research team suggests that more work is needed to definitively prove that frequent consumption of fried foods leads to mental health problems. They acknowledge that it is possible that people in the data group they studied consumed more fried foods because they suffered from anxiety or depression.
Important: This material is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical advice. Publications on the site are based on the latest relevant and scientifically based research in the field of medicine. But if you need a diagnosis or medical advice, be sure to consult a doctor.
