The Role of Different Dietary Patterns on Anxiety and Depression
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 1835
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Evidence regarding the association between diet pattern and depressive and anxiety symptoms is limited. Nevertheless, diet is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for mental health. A diet rich in ultra-processed foods has been associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. By improving diet quality, the depressive symptoms were reduced. Healthy dietary patterns that involve consuming a variety of foods such as whole
grains, legumes, nuts, vegetables and fruits, fish, seafood, and milk and dairy products can reduce the risk of depressive symptoms. A Mediterranean diet with a balanced intake of fruits, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and fish is associated with a lower risk of depression.
Dietary fiber, a key component of a healthy diet, is broken down into short-chain fatty acids.
A diverse gut microbiome, which is involved in the gut-brain axis and tryptophan–serotonin metabolism, seems to regulate depression and anxiety. Eating a healthy diet is a major factor that positively influences the gut microbiome. This microbiome regulates inflammation and reduces depression through the production of γ-aminobutyric acid and serotonin.
The relationships between diet quality and clinical depression and anxiety have not been established. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of dietary patterns characterized by a set of nutrients of interest with depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Dr. María Teresa Iglesias-López
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- diet quality
- depression
- anxiety
- gut–brain axis
- dietary fiber
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