Association between soft drink consumption and depression mediated by gut microbiome: a perspective

partially mediated the soft drink-depression association, explaining approximately 4% of the association. Soft drink consumption is associated with increased depression risk through multiple biological pathways involving inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and gut microbiome alterations. Modest effect sizes suggest the involvement of multiple interconnected mechanisms. Public health interventions to limit sugar-sweetened beverage consumption are recommended to improve physical and mental health. Healthcare providers should consider dietary assessment and counselling as part of depression prevention and treatment strategies.