An Overview of the Potential Role of Nutrition in Mental Disorders in the Light of Advances in Nutripsychiatry

Abstract

Purpose of Review: As research on the potential impact of nutrition on mental disorders, a significant component of global disability continues to grow the concepts of “nutritional psychiatry, psycho-dietetics/nutripsychiatry” have taken their place in the literature. This review is a comprehensive examination of the literature on the the potential mechanisms between common mental disorders and nutrition and evaluates the effectiveness of dietary interventions. Recent Findings: Inflammation, oxidative stress, intestinal microbiota, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neural plasticity are shown as potential mechanisms in the relationship between mental disorders and nutrition. As a matter of fact, neurotrophic factors, which make important contributions to repair mechanisms throughout life, and neuronal plasticity, which plays a role in mental disorders, are affected by nutritional factors. In metabolism, the antioxidant defense system works with nutritional cofactors and phytochemicals. A balanced, planned diet that provides these components is more likely to provide nutrients that increase resilience against the pathogenesis of mental disorders. Summary: Nutrition can be considered a risk factor for mental disorders. Therefore, developing public health strategies focused on improving diet may help reduce the global burden of mental disorders and other related diseases.