Depression is a common mental health issue for many people around the world today. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 280 million people, or 5% of the total global population, struggle with depression.
While there are many external factors that can cause this issue for people, ranging from trauma to stress or abuse, there may be also internal factors at play too. Recently, scientists at the Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI) and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Barcelona have linked depression to a common protein, proline.
Proline can be found in most meats and fish, where the average daily intake for this amino acid is 5 grams. Some individuals who have skin conditions may be prescribed proline supplements, but there is not enough research to show if they actually work.
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To find any links between amino acids and depression, the researchers at IDIBGI and UPF analyzed the diets of 116 participants. These participants were also given questionnaires about their mental health. According to a researcher at IDIBGI and director of the Department of Medical Sciences at the University of Girona, Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real: “We were surprised that what was most associated with depression, evaluated through this questionnaire, was the consumption of proline.”
