Research Identifies Association Between Chocolate Consumption and Depression

Women throughout the civilized world have known for generations that chocolate is consumed in greater volumes dependent upon the mood and state of mind of the female. Now, it appears science is taking a closer look at this phenomenon.

A recent Science Daily release examines research conducted by a group at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, which found that women and men eat more chocolate as symptoms of depression increase. This finding suggests there is a real connection between mood and chocolate.

Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, co-authored this study which she believes confirms the long-held suspicions that people will eat chocolate when they are feeling down. She also noted that the cross sectional style of the study did not reveal whether or not the chocolate decreased or intensified the depression.

The point of the study was to evaluate the relationship of the consumption of chocolate to mood in a study sample of adults. Researchers looked at 1,000 subjects who were not on antidepressant medications and did not suffer any cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Study findings revealed that men and women with higher depression scores consumed nearly 12 servings of chocolate per month, while those with lower depression scores consumed roughly eight servings a month. When depression was not present at all, only about five servings were eaten each month.

Golomb believes the findings are specific to chocolate as there did not appear to be a general increase in caffeine, fat, carbohydrates or other energy intake. Researchers also found no obvious difference in the intake of antioxidant-rich foods, including fish, coffee, fruits and vegetables between individuals with depression and those who showed no signs of problems.