The Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Diet Is Associated with Lower Levels of Depression and Anxiety and a Better Cognitive Performance in Middle Life

doi:10.3390/nu13020627

. 2021 Feb 15;13(2):627.

doi: 10.3390/nu13020627.

The Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Diet Is Associated with Lower Levels of Depression and Anxiety and a Better Cognitive Performance in Middle Life

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Iraklion, Greece.
² Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Iraklion, Greece.
³ Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK.
⁴ Impact Epilysis, 30 Psellou Michail Street, 54655 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁵ Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁶ Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁷ Department of Medical Laboratory Studies, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁸ Psychiatric Clinic, 424 General Military Hospital, N. Efkarpia, 56429 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁹ Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Genome Center, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

PMID: 33671993
PMCID: PMC7919284
DOI: 10.3390/nu13020627

The Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Diet Is Associated with Lower Levels of Depression and Anxiety and a Better Cognitive Performance in Middle Life

Cleanthe Spanaki et al. Nutrients. 2021.

. 2021 Feb 15;13(2):627.

doi: 10.3390/nu13020627.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Iraklion, Greece.
² Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Iraklion, Greece.
³ Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK.
⁴ Impact Epilysis, 30 Psellou Michail Street, 54655 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁵ Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁶ Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁷ Department of Medical Laboratory Studies, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁸ Psychiatric Clinic, 424 General Military Hospital, N. Efkarpia, 56429 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁹ Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Genome Center, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.

PMID: 33671993
PMCID: PMC7919284
DOI: 10.3390/nu13020627

Abstract

Lifestyle choices significantly influence mental health in later life. In this study we investigated the effects of the Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting diet, which includes long-term regular abstinence from animal-based products for half the calendar year, on cognitive function and emotional wellbeing of healthy adults. Two groups of fasting and non-fasting individuals were evaluated regarding their cognitive performance and the presence of anxiety and depression using the Mini Mental Examination Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), respectively. Data on physical activity, smoking, and vitamin levels were collected and correlated with mental health scoring. Negative binomial regression was performed to examine differences in the GDS scores between the two groups. Significantly lower levels of anxiety (7.48 ± 4.98 vs. 9.71 ± 5.25; p < 0.001) and depression (2.24 ± 1.77 vs. 3.5 ± 2.52; p < 0.001), along with better cognitive function (29.15 ± 0.79 vs. 28.64 ± 1.27; p < 0.001), were noticed in fasting compared to non-fasting individuals. GDS score was 31% lower (Incidence Rate Ratio: 0.69, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.56-0.85) in the fasting group compared to the control, while vitamin and ferrum levels did not differ. The COC fasting diet was found to have an independent positive impact on cognition and mood in middle-aged and elderly individuals.

Keywords: Christian Orthodox Church; Mediterranean diet; anxiety; cognition; depression; fasting; nutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 2**
(A–C): Distribution of GDS, HAS, and MMSE scores; (D–I): Correlation of GDS, HAS, and B12 levels with MMSE scores.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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[1] Daviglus M.L., Bell C.C., Berrettini W., Bowen P.E., Connolly E.S., Cox N.J., Dunbar-Jacob J.M., Granieri E.C., Hunt G., McGarry K., et al. NIH state-of-the-science conference statement: Preventing Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. NIH Consens. State Sci. Statements. 2010;27:1–30. - PubMed

[2] Daviglus M.L., Bell C.C., Berrettini W., Bowen P.E., Connolly E.S., Cox N.J., Dunbar-Jacob J.M., Granieri E.C., Hunt G., McGarry K., et al. NIH state-of-the-science conference statement: Preventing Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. NIH Consens. State Sci. Statements. 2010;27:1–30. - PubMed

[3] Gill S.S., Seitz D.P. Lifestyles and Cognitive Health: What Older Individuals Can Do to Optimize Cognitive Outcomes. JAMA. 2015;314:774–775. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.9526. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Gill S.S., Seitz D.P. Lifestyles and Cognitive Health: What Older Individuals Can Do to Optimize Cognitive Outcomes. JAMA. 2015;314:774–775. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.9526. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Vollset S.E., Goren E., Yuan C.-W., Cao J., Smith A.E., Hsiao T., Bisignano C., Azhar G.S., Castro E., Chalek J., et al. Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet. 2020;396:1285–1306. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30677-2. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Vollset S.E., Goren E., Yuan C.-W., Cao J., Smith A.E., Hsiao T., Bisignano C., Azhar G.S., Castro E., Chalek J., et al. Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet. 2020;396:1285–1306. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30677-2. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] World Health Organization Healthy Ageing and the Sustainable Development Goals. [(accessed on 1 October 2020)];2017 Available online: https://www.who.int/ageing/sdgs/en/

[8] World Health Organization Healthy Ageing and the Sustainable Development Goals. [(accessed on 1 October 2020)];2017 Available online: https://www.who.int/ageing/sdgs/en/

[9] Jacka F.N., Pasco J.A., Mykletun A., Williams L.J., Hodge A.M., O’Reilly S.L., Nicholson G.C., Kotowicz M.A., Berk M. Association of Western and Traditional Diets with Depression and Anxiety in Women. Am. J. Psychiatry. 2010;167:305–311. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09060881. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Jacka F.N., Pasco J.A., Mykletun A., Williams L.J., Hodge A.M., O’Reilly S.L., Nicholson G.C., Kotowicz M.A., Berk M. Association of Western and Traditional Diets with Depression and Anxiety in Women. Am. J. Psychiatry. 2010;167:305–311. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09060881. - DOI - PubMed

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The Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Diet Is Associated with Lower Levels of Depression and Anxiety and a Better Cognitive Performance in Middle Life

Affiliations

The Christian Orthodox Church Fasting Diet Is Associated with Lower Levels of Depression and Anxiety and a Better Cognitive Performance in Middle Life

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