Does Depression Cause a Chocolate Craving- or Vice Versa?

Researchers at the University of California at San Diego are reporting that people who are depressed consume a higher amount of chocolate than people who are not depressed (1). However, the antidepressant effect of chocolate may be fleeting- and in some cases, even lead to depression. This finding goes against the general assumption that eating chocolate can lift a person's mood and actually improve his or her mental state.

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, has been touted as a mood-booster, an antioxidant, and a cure-all for everything from high blood pressure (2) to cirrhosis of the liver (3). Chocolate has a high level of flavanols, which have been found to increase levels of nitric oxide and promote blood vessel relaxation and improve cardiovascular health (4). Chocolate also contains various antioxidants, which have been correlated to improved liver function and health.

However, in terms of improving one's mood, the results are mixed. Natalie Rose and her colleagues at UCSD discovered that her study participants who described themselves as depressed were eating more chocolate than those participants who did not describe themselves as being depressed. Specifically, depressed individuals ate an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate per month compared with 5.4 servings for non-depressed individuals. Severely depressed individuals ate even more chocolate, on the average of 11.8 servings per month. In total, 931 individuals participated in Dr. Rose's study. The participants were not taking any antidepressants.

While this information is not very surprising, what is more surprising is that the trend was true for both men and women. Such data exclude the theory that women often eat more chocolate due to hormonal swings or premenstrual syndrome issues. Additionally, many of the participants reported that they did not notice any mood-lifting effect after eating chocolate (1). Such data contradict the popular belief that eating chocolate produces a feeling of euphoria which helps combat depression.

Rose and her colleagues hypothesize that, based on these data, people who are depressed may simply eat more chocolate as a way of coping with their feelings. However, the chocolate may not necessarily help alleviate the symptoms of their depression, and may actually be acting as more of a comfort food. Furthermore, Rose suspects that, in some cases, eating chocolate may even contribute to feelings of increased depression. Because chocolate contains certain antioxidants, it could lead to a temporary euphoria, much like alcohol or certain drugs lead to a temporary alleviation of bad mood and/or lethargy. However, once the euphoria has dissipated, the person suffers an even more pronounced depression and needs more of the original substance in order to reproduce the original "high". This may be especially true if weight gain results from the person constantly imbibing in his or her chocolate "habit".

Based on these hypotheses, Rose and her colleagues plan to conduct further research studies to examine whether or not eating chocolate can actually lead to depression.

References:

1. Depressed? You must like chocolate
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36786824/ns/health-mental_health/ns/health-mental_health/

2. Eat your (chocolate) Easter eggs for good health
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/health/2010/04/eat_you_chocolate_easter_eggs.html

3. Potential Benefit of Dark Chocolate for Liver Disease
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100415114323.htm

4. Flavanols Key To Potential Chocolate Benefits
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050929081826.htm

5. Chocolate and Depression: Is There a Connection?
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/chocolate-depression-connection/story?id=10480501&page=2