Nutrients

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Microbiome and Mental Health in the Era of Precision Nutrition

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Dr. Alika K. Maunakea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Interests: epigenetics; microbiome; mental health; nutrition; gut–brain axis; environmental exposures; inflammation; social–epigenomic interactions; indigenous health; precision nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Samia Valeria Ozorio Dutra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Univeristy of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Interests: international collaboration; gut microbiome; gut-brain axis; precision nutrition; mental health; anxiety; depression; health promotion; neurodevelopment; women’s health; machine learning; artificial intelligence; risk prediction; translational research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The gut–brain axis represents a dynamic interface through which nutrition and microbial activity influence mental wellbeing. Growing evidence links alterations in gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolites, and host epigenetic regulation to depression, anxiety, stress response, and cognitive function. This Special Issue, “Microbiome and Mental Health in the Era of Precision Nutrition,” invites contributions that explore how prebiotics, probiotics, diet, and environmental factors shape neurobiological and psychological health. We particularly welcome studies integrating microbiome profiling with metabolic, immune, and epigenetic analyses to reveal mechanisms connecting microbial function to mood and cognition. Original research, comprehensive reviews, and new perspectives that address methodological advances, translational approaches, and population-level implications are encouraged. By bridging nutrition, microbiology, and neuroscience, this Special Issue aims to establish a translational framework for precision nutrition strategies that promote mental resilience and wellbeing across diverse communities.

Dr. Alika K. Maunakea
Dr. Samia Valeria Ozorio Dutra
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.

Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.

Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.

External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.

Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

20 pages, 2293 KB

Open AccessReview

Seasonal Affective Disorder and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Circadian Disruption, Tryptophan Metabolism, and Psychobiotic Potential of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG

by He Liu, Xin Kuang and Xinyan Zheng

Nutrients 2026, 18(14), 2364; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18142364 - 18 Jul 2026

Viewed by 479

Abstract

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a recurrent mood disorder associated with reduced photoperiod exposure and circadian disruption during autumn and winter. Emerging evidence links SAD to alterations in serotonergic signaling, neuroimmune activity, metabolism, and the microbiota–gut–brain axis; however, the causal relationships among these systems remain incompletely understood. A structured search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified relevant publications from 2000 to 2025, with clinical and preclinical evidence evaluated separately. Proposed links between circadian misalignment, inflammatory signaling, and tryptophan metabolism toward the kynurenine pathway are based largely on associative and preclinical findings rather than confirmed mechanisms in SAD. The microbiota–gut–brain axis in SAD is likely bidirectional, as seasonal changes in feeding behavior, physical activity, and circadian phase may themselves influence gut microbial composition and function. Accordingly, microbiome alterations in affective disorders may reflect both potential upstream modulators and downstream consequences of disease-related behavior. Psychobiotics have been proposed as modulators of gut–brain communication in affective disorders. Among candidate strains, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (formerly Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG; LGG) has shown effects on intestinal barrier function, immune signaling, and host tryptophan metabolism in preclinical studies. However, evidence derives largely from animal or non-seasonal depression models, and direct evidence in SAD is lacking. Thus, LGG should be considered a mechanistically plausible candidate for future investigation rather than an established therapy. This review synthesizes evidence on circadian regulation, serotonergic and tryptophan metabolism, and microbiota–gut–brain interactions in SAD, and highlights mechanistic gaps for future studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbiome and Mental Health in the Era of Precision Nutrition)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Microbiome and Mental Health in the Era of Precision Nutrition

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (1 paper)

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI