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Nutrients
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The Role of Different Dietary Patterns on Anxiety and Depression
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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 2406

Special Issue Editor

Dr. María Teresa Iglesias-López

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Spain
Interests: nutrient intake; anxiety; diet; emotional eating and anxiety

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

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • diet quality
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • gut–brain axis
  • dietary fiber

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1363 KiB  
Article
Extent of Unidentified Complaints and Depression Is Inversely Associated with Fish and Shellfish Intake in Young Japanese Women
by Toshikazu Suzuki, Yui Yoshizawa and Shiori Takano
Nutrients 2025, 17(7), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071252 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 890
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Vague physical complaints with no corresponding organic disease background are called unidentified complaints. The symptoms of patients with unidentified complaints closely resemble medically unexplained or persistent physical symptoms, with the onset sometimes masked by mental disorders. Over the past 50 years, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Vague physical complaints with no corresponding organic disease background are called unidentified complaints. The symptoms of patients with unidentified complaints closely resemble medically unexplained or persistent physical symptoms, with the onset sometimes masked by mental disorders. Over the past 50 years, numerous studies have connected unfavorable eating habits to these symptoms; however, no study has systematically examined the association between the symptoms and specific nutrients or food items. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of young Japanese women, using questionnaire surveys, to assess their nutritional intake, quantify unidentified complaints and depression, and identify nutrients/food items primarily associated with the severity of these conditions. Results: Our findings indicate that participants with high scores for unidentified complaints, depression, or both had lower intake levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 than those with low scores, alongside reduced fish and shellfish consumption. Notably, the median fish and shellfish intake in the group with high scores for both unidentified complaints and depression was less than one-fourth of that in the low-score group. Conclusions: The results align with previous findings, demonstrating a modest inverse association between fish intake and depression risk, and suggesting the involvement of fish and shellfish intake in the occurrence of unidentified complaints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Different Dietary Patterns on Anxiety and Depression)
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12 pages, 373 KiB  
Article
Orthorexia Nervosa: Prevalence Among Spanish University Students and Its Effects on Cardiometabolic Health
by Sara Manero-Higuera, Marta Garcés-Rimón, María Teresa Iglesias-López and Miguel López-Moreno
Nutrients 2025, 17(4), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040629 - 10 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1028
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to determine the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa (ON) among university students and to evaluate the relationship between stress and ON, as well as the effects that ON may have on the health of these individuals. Methods: In [...] Read more.
Purpose: This study aims to determine the prevalence of orthorexia nervosa (ON) among university students and to evaluate the relationship between stress and ON, as well as the effects that ON may have on the health of these individuals. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 205 participants (66.7% women) were recruited through informational posters on the university campus during the 2022–2023 academic year. They answered different questionnaires to yield socio-demographic data and completed specific tests for the evaluation of ON (Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS-ES), Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ-ES)) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-ES)). The analytical determination of blood biomarkers was also carried out. Results: The prevalence of ON obtained from the DOS-ES questionnaire was 1.5%, while 7.5% of the individuals showed a risk of ON. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between DOS-ES and EHQ-ES scores (rs = 0.674). A weak correlation (rs = 0.138) was reported between stress and ON. Individuals with underweight BMI (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01–1.22) and elevated monocyte levels (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05–1.26) were more likely to have higher DOS-ES scores compared to those with normal weight and normal monocyte levels. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated a lower rate (1.5%) than previous studies, and differences by sex or age were not observed in ON diagnosis, nor was a link between underweight BMI and an increased risk of ON. Additionally, a higher monocyte count was associated with ON, suggesting potential immune and cardiometabolic implications, but further research with larger populations is needed to confirm these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Different Dietary Patterns on Anxiety and Depression)
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