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The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2026) | Viewed by 22729

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Prof. Dr. Marcus Zanetti

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Faculdade Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: mental health; psychiatric disorders; mood disorders; cognitive neuroscience; nutrition and metabolism; lifestyle interventions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleges,

Over the past decade, a growing body of evidence has uncovered the central role of nutrition in brain physiology and mental health. Both epidemiological and intervention studies have convergently shown that health dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, may impart preventive and therapeutic effects on mood, cognition, sleep, and even suicidal behaviors. Our diet influences the nervous system and mental health, including the stress response, throught different mechanisms, incluing by modulating the gut microbiota and the gut–brain axis, which are critical for systemic and brain inflammation. Also, clinical trials have reported promising results from novel dietary approaches (intermittent fasting and fasting mimicking diet, for instance) and supplementation with different nutrients and nutraceuticals (methylation factors, omega-3 fatty acids, bioactive compounds, probiotics, and prebiotics, among others) on improving mental symptoms.

We invite you to submit original research (both experimental and observational research) papers, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses to this Special Issue to broaden our knowledge and open new research directions.

Prof. Dr. Marcus Zanetti
Guest Editor

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Keywords

nutritional interventions
intermittent fasting
probiotic
prebiotic
omega-3 fatty acids
bioactive compounds
gut microbiota
inflammation
methylation
mood
cognition
depression
anxiety
bipolar disorder
schizophrenia

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 436 KB

Open AccessArticle

U-Shaped Association Between β-Carotene Intake and Suicidal Ideation in Cancer Survivors: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Sample

by Hyejin Tae and Tae-Suk Kim

Nutrients 2026, 18(10), 1567; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101567 - 14 May 2026

Viewed by 487

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Nutritional factors, including β-carotene with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, are increasingly recognized for their role in mental health. However, population-based evidence on micronutrient intake and suicidal ideation among cancer survivors remains limited. This study investigated the association between dietary β-carotene intake and suicidal ideation among cancer survivors using nationally representative data. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 698 adult cancer survivors from the 2014–2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire. Dietary β-carotene intake was estimated using a 24-h dietary recall. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied with adjustment for sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical, and dietary factors. Restricted cubic spline models were used to examine non-linear dose–response relationships. Subgroup analyses were performed by age, sex, and time since diagnosis. Results: Among participants, 6.3% reported suicidal ideation. Higher β-carotene intake was associated with lower odds of suicidal ideation (adjusted OR 0.68 per 1000 µg increase, 95% CI 0.50–0.93). Restricted cubic spline analyses revealed a significant U-shaped association (p for non-linearity = 0.030), indicating that the risk of suicidal ideation was lowest at an intermediate intake level (approximately 6000 µg/day). Stronger associations were observed among younger individuals and those ≥5 years post-diagnosis, with no significant interaction by sex. Conclusions: Dietary β-carotene intake showed a non-linear association with suicidal ideation, suggesting that both insufficient and excessive intake are associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation. These findings suggest the potential importance of optimal micronutrient balance in mental health and suggest that dietary factors may be associated with suicidal ideation among cancer survivors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health)

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15 pages, 608 KB

Open AccessArticle

Associations Between Diet, Metabolic Profile, and Cognitive Function in Men with Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls: Evidence from a Comparative Study

by Krzysztof Krysta, Beata Trędzbor, Ewa Martyniak, Aleksandra Cieślik, Agnieszka Koźmin-Burzyńska, Katarzyna Piekarska-Bugiel, Rafał Bieś, Katarzyna Skałacka, Karolina Drzyzga and Marek Krzystanek

Nutrients 2026, 18(10), 1492; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101492 - 8 May 2026

Viewed by 505

Abstract

Introduction: Growing evidence indicates that diet quality significantly influences metabolic parameters and cognitive functioning. In healthy individuals, higher consumption of minimally processed foods and products rich in omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a more favorable lipid profile and better cognitive performance. Patients with schizophrenia present an increased risk of metabolic disturbances and reduced cognitive functioning. This suggests that this group may be particularly sensitive to nutritional factors. However, relatively few studies have simultaneously examined the relationships between diet, metabolism, and cognitive profile in patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the relationships between the frequency of consumption of selected food categories and metabolic parameters (glycemia, lipid profile, and insulin resistance), as well as cognitive functions (Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and verbal fluency), in patients with schizophrenia and healthy men. Methods: The study included 21 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy men. All participants completed a questionnaire assessing the frequency of food consumption. Blood samples were collected to determine glucose, insulin, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels, and the HOMA-IR index was calculated. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Stroop Test (RCNb, NCWd) and the Trail Making Test (TMT-A and TMT-B), which measure psychomotor speed and visuospatial working memory, respectively, and the verbal fluency test (semantic and phonological). Correlation analyses were performed separately in both groups. Due to the small sample size, all correlations are treated as exploratory and are analyzed with correction for multiple comparisons. Results: Exploratory analyses identified several patterns of associations between the frequency of consumption of selected food categories, metabolic parameters, and cognitive performance in both healthy men and patients with schizophrenia. The observed patterns differed between groups, suggesting that clinical status and treatment-related factors may modify diet–metabolism–cognition relationships. These findings highlight potential pathways linking dietary habits with metabolic and cognitive outcomes and provide a basis for further hypothesis-driven research. Conclusions: Diet quality may be related to metabolic status and cognitive functioning. However, the pattern of these associations differs between patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals. The findings suggest that diet may play a role in metabolic health and cognitive functioning, particularly in clinical populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health)

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16 pages, 293 KB

Open AccessArticle

Skipping Breakfast and Lunch, as Well as Reducing Milk and Dairy Intake, Is Associated with Depressive Symptoms in Pregnant Adolescents

by Reyna Sámano, Estefania Aguirre-Minutti, Hugo Martínez-Rojano, Gabriela Chico-Barba, Ricardo Gamboa, Carmen Hernández-Chávez, María Eugenia Mendoza-Flores, Erika González-Medina and Primavera Pérez-Romero

Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040704 - 22 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Background and objective: Depression is the most common mental health problem in women during pregnancy, associated with psychological, social, and medical factors characteristic of this stage. However, a lack of knowledge and limited attention to this condition can aggravate its consequences and restrict access to appropriate treatment. This research seeks to fill a gap in the scientific literature by exploring the association between eating habits and dietary diversity with depressive symptomatology in a group with high psychosocial vulnerability: pregnant adolescents. Material and methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with a sample of 344 pregnant adolescents attending prenatal care at the National Institute of Perinatology (INPer), a tertiary care center. Non-probabilistic sampling was used for recruitment. Relevant information was collected using a pre-validated structured questionnaire administered via interview. Depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with a score of ≥12 considered indicative of a higher risk of depression. Eating habits were evaluated based on meal omission, activities performed during meals, and dietary diversity, comparing them with national recommendations. Food group consumption was assessed using a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Robust variance Poisson regression models were employed to evaluate the independent association between undesirable eating habits, inadequate food group intake, and the presence of depressive symptomatology. Results: A significant association was observed between the presence of depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥ 12) and the omission of main meals. Specifically, skipping breakfast was associated with a higher prevalence of EPDS scores ≥ 12 (aPR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.10–2.19; p = 0.013). Similarly, adolescents who skipped lunch showed a higher prevalence of depressive symptomatology compared to those who did not (aPR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.11–3.68; p = 0.022). Regarding food groups, only insufficient intake of milk and dairy products was significantly associated with the presence of depressive symptoms (aPR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.16–2.73; p = 0.008). Conclusions: This cross-sectional study found a significant association between breakfast skipping, distraction while eating, and inadequate dairy intake with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in socially vulnerable pregnant adolescents treated at a tertiary care center. However, due to the study’s design, causality or the direction of the relationship cannot be established (it could be bidirectional), and it cannot be affirmed that modifying the diet will necessarily reduce depression. Furthermore, the results are not generalizable to all pregnant adolescents, and future research (longitudinal or interventional) is needed to better understand these associations before developing specific dietary interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health)

28 pages, 5131 KB

Open AccessArticle

Daily Administration of Agmatine Reduced Anxiety-like Behaviors and Neural Responses in the Brains of Male Mice with Persistent Inflammation in the Craniofacial Region

by Yuya Iwamoto, Kajita Piriyaprasath, Andi Sitti Hajrah Yusuf, Mana Hasegawa, Yoshito Kakihara, Tsutomu Sato, Noritaka Fujii, Kensuke Yamamura and Keiichiro Okamoto

Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1848; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111848 - 28 May 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 9151

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Chronic craniofacial inflammation is recognized as a factor in anxiety-like behaviors, yet effective therapeutic options remain limited. Agmatine, a dietary bioactive compound found in fermented foods such as sake lees, exhibits modulatory effects on neural functions, alleviating psychological distress like anxiety associated with local inflammation. Methods: We investigated both the therapeutic and preventive effects of agmatine on anxiety-like behaviors and the related neural basis in a mouse model of persistent craniofacial inflammation induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Results: Comprehensive behavioral assessments, including the elevated plus maze, open field, dark–light box, social interaction, and novel object recognition tests, revealed that therapeutic agmatine administration (1.0 and 30 mg/kg) significantly reduced CFA-induced anxiety-like behaviors, with the higher dose showing more robust and sustained effects across multiple time points. These behavioral improvements were paralleled by reductions in acetylated histone H3, FosB, and c-Fos expression in key anxiety-related brain regions, suggesting a reversal of craniofacial inflammation-associated neural changes. In contrast, preventive agmatine treatment exerted modest and time-dependent behavioral benefits with minimal molecular normalization. Notably, preventive agmatine did not affect general locomotor activity (indicated by total movement distance), indicating that its anxiolytic effects were not confounded by altered locomotor activity. Metabolomic analysis confirmed the presence of agmatine in sake lees (~0.37 mM), supporting the hypothesis that fermented food products might offer dietary routes to emotional resilience. Conclusions: These findings underscore agmatine’s promise as a context-specific epigenetic modulator capable of mitigating anxiety-like behaviors by normalizing inflammation-driven molecular dysregulation in the brain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health)

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Review

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30 pages, 1864 KB

Open AccessReview

Diet and Mental Health Relationships in Caribbean Populations: A Scoping Review and Evidence Gap Map

by Catherine R. Brown, Emily Haynes, Khadija Patel, Christina Howitt, Michael Campbell and Madhuvanti Murphy

Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010058 - 23 Dec 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2259

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Most research linking diet and mental health outcomes is from high-income countries, limiting insight into how these relationships manifest in culturally diverse, vulnerable contexts, such as the Caribbean. This scoping review aims to map existing research on the relationship between aspects of diet and mental health within Caribbean populations, to identify evidence gaps and guide future research. Methods: Eleven databases were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2024 in 33 Caribbean countries which assessed the relationship between diet and mental health outcomes. Duplicate screening and extraction were conducted using Redcap software, and a narrative synthesis and evidence gap map were created. The original protocol was registered with Open Science Framework. Results: Forty-four records were included, nine of which focused on eating disorders (examined separately). Most were cross-sectional studies of the general population, with few experimental and qualitative studies. Surveys were the most frequently applied data collection tool, often without mention of local adaptation or validation. Most records examined food security and depression as their ‘diet’ and ‘mental health’ variables, respectively. Frequently explored relationships included autism and seafood intake and fruit and vegetable intake, while depression and food security was the most widely examined relationship across studies. Conclusions: Caribbean research on diet–mental health relationships is growing though it is limited in scope, design, and cultural validity. Strengthening this evidence base requires studies whose primary aim is in nutritional psychiatry, using culturally relevant tools, and an expansion of study designs that incorporate Caribbean food systems and sociocultural contexts surrounding diet and mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health)

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21 pages, 639 KB

Open AccessReview

From Food to Mood: Psychological and Psychiatric Impact of Diet in Bipolar Disorder

by Giuseppe Marano, Gianluca Boggio, Francesca Abate, Emanuele Caroppo, Gianandrea Traversi, Osvaldo Mazza, Esmeralda Capristo, Eleonora Gaetani and Marianna Mazza

Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3728; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233728 - 27 Nov 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5569

Abstract

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric illness characterized by recurrent mood episodes and significant psychosocial impairment. Emerging evidence supports a bidirectional link between diet and mental health, with growing interest in nutritional psychiatry. This narrative review examines the psychological and psychiatric impact of diet in BD, focusing on biological mechanisms (gut–brain axis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter synthesis, and HPA axis dysregulation) and the role of specific dietary patterns, including Western, Mediterranean, ketogenic, and anti-inflammatory diets. Key micronutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, B-vitamins, magnesium, and vitamin D are explored in relation to mood regulation. This review also addresses psychological factors, including emotional eating, disordered eating behaviors, and the symbolic meaning of food in BD. Furthermore, it highlights the integration of nutritional psychoeducation into psychotherapy, the impact of comorbidities (e.g., obesity, metabolic syndrome), and the role of lifestyle factors such as sleep and physical activity. Despite promising findings, current research is limited by methodological heterogeneity. Future perspectives should include interdisciplinary, personalized interventions that incorporate nutritional strategies into standard care for BD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health)

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19 pages, 986 KB

Open AccessReview

Selected Lipidome Components and Their Association with Perinatal Depression

by Dominika Ładno, Beata Nowak, Aleksandra Palka, Dominik Strzelecki and Oliwia Gawlik-Kotelnicka

Nutrients 2025, 17(22), 3590; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223590 - 17 Nov 2025

Viewed by 2028

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Perinatal depression affects approximately 21% of pregnant women and 15% postpartum, significantly impacting both maternal and child health. Lipid metabolism alterations, particularly involving fatty acids and lecithin, have been associated with mood disorders during the perinatal period. Omega-3 PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) play a key role in mood regulation and neuroinflammatory processes, while lecithin significantly influences neurotransmitter synthesis. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar for relevant articles which were qualitatively analyzed. Most of the literature included was published between 2020 and 2025 with selected earlier studies used, primarily, to outline the theoretical background. Results: This narrative review highlights substantial evidence linking components of lipidome, particularly omega-3 fatty acids and lecithin, and the occurrence of perinatal depression. Omega-3 deficiency increases antenatal depression risk by up to 6-fold. Inflammation, manifested by elevated levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein), and kynurenine pathway activation appear as central mechanisms, both of which can be modulated by PUFAs. Supplementation shows variable outcomes, with greatest efficiency for eicosapentaeonic acid (EPA)-predominant formulations (EPA/DHA ≥ 1.5). Choline is essential for fetal neurodevelopment, though evidence on lecithin and choline is inconclusive. Presumably, excessive intake and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) production may contribute to depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Omega-3 PUFAs deficiency may increase the risk of perinatal depression, while supplementation appears beneficial for prevention. The findings regarding other lipid-derived compounds, specifically choline and lecithin, are inconclusive. Despite promising findings, further research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of dietary interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health)

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