Consuming soft drinks could increase the risk of clinical depression by impacting the balance of microbes in the gut, an intriguing study suggests, with women at particular risk.

Increases in the abundance of bacterium Eggerthella appeared was particularly important, the researchers report in JAMA Psychiatry .

They believe their findings leave scope for depression interventions that target the composition of the microbiome.

Policies to reduce the intake of soft drinks could also help mitigate the risk of depression, particularly in vulnerable populations.

“These findings underscore the role of diet in depression and highlight the gut microbiome as a key mediator,” reported Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah, PhD, from University Hospital Frankfurt, and co-workers.

“The observed sex-specif

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