Relationship between Diet and Mental health

Continuous multitasking & questing for social acceptance is bringing a drastic shift in eating behaviours & leading to the development of a global epidemic of mental disorders. Almost 200 million people in India suffer from mental disorders. There is an enhanced demand for psychological & psychiatric health support exponentially which indicates a steep rise in psychiatric treatment in future decades.

The onset of mental disorders depends upon

genotype, intrauterine infection, postnatal traumatizing events, psychoactive substance usage & unhealthy lifestyle. Available psychopharmacotherapy & psychotherapy treatments do not guarantee absolute positive outcomes. Alternative preventive interventions comprising nutrition-dependent approaches are preferable.

The connection between nutrition & mental health

With unhealthy diet increases calorie intake but decreases nervous system-supportive brain nutrients. Co-existing bad lifestyle habits like smoking, sedentary living, low physical activity & alcohol consumption, cumulatively causes excessive weight gain, and nutrient deficiency, and compromise the functioning of food nutrient-dependent antioxidant system & the brain-derived neurotrophic factor which controls plasticity & neurodegenerative processes leading to psychiatric disorders.

Mental health-protective nutrients & food ingredients Psychobiotics-

Gut-brain axis (psychobiotics) in association with the vagus nerve & autonomic nervous system offers bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract & the CNS, helping maintain the ideal mental status & treats mental disorders effectively.

S-adenosylmethionine & N-acetylcysteine

Influences receptor degradation, neurotransmitter uptake, and synaptogenesis & provide anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective & antidepressant effects.

Vitamin D

Reduces depression, irritability, fatigue, mood swings, sleep difficulties, weakness & lack of concentration. Offers a neuroprotective effect, conserves synapse plasticity & regulates the functioning of the dopaminergic system.

Folate (folic acid)

Helps maintain adequate serum homocysteine levels & prevents migraine headaches.

Docosahexaenoic acid

Stimulates neurotransmission & increases neuro-efficiency of communication processes .

Alpha-lipoic acid, lignans, soluble fibre, phytoestrogen

Encourages cortical cell development, neuromodulates cognitive behaviour, & reduces oxidative stress parameters.

Flavonoids

Improves brain-derived neurotrophic parameters & lessens depression symptoms.

Exogenous amino acid

Aids the diurnal rhythm & emotional status regulation.

Magnesium calcium, selenium, zinc, manganese, copper, antioxidants – vitamins D, E, C, carotenoids

Reduces oxidative stress & chronic inflammation due to a decrease in CRP, IL-6, and WBC indices.

Complex carbohydrates, eicosapentaenoic acid, amino acid – glycine, polyphenols, anthocyanins

Regulates neuromodulator & neurotransmitter expression. Reduces hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation. Maintains insulin secretion & glucose ejection into cells. Modulates neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity & activation of microglia in the CNS. Inactivates LDL oxidation, lipid peroxidation, inflammation & neurodegenerative changes.

Nutritional interventions for mental disorders The MIND diets

(The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet) - high intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grain cereal products, olive oil, fish, & seafood, and moderate consumption of dry red wine with meals • Helps counteract & slow down the progression of neurodegenerative brain changes & improve nervous system functioning.

Conclusion

Currently, psychodietetics & neuropsychiatry are gaining popularity with emerging supportive data to establish the relationship between nutrition & mental status. Urbanization-linked food habits & lifestyle changes impact psychological status & demand the development & implementation of comprehensive nutrition plus pharmacological-dependent mental health-specific preventive therapeutic remedies.