Impact of Nutrition on Neurobiological Mechanisms in Depression
Keywords:
Depression, Nutrition, NeurobiologyAbstract
Depression remains a critical mental health challenge both globally and in Thailand. Risk factors are multidimensional, including dietary habits—where prolonged consumption of a poor diet may exacerbate the condition, while a healthy diet may serve as a protective factor. To provide a comprehensive guideline for holistic healthcare in patients with depression , this article aims to review the impact of nutrition on depression, with a specific focus on the neurobiological mechanisms through which nutrients influence brain function.
The mechanisms linking diet to depression are complex and multifaceted, involving various interacting biological pathways rather than a single direct cause. Several plausible pathways have been identified through which diet may impact mental health, including the modulation of pathways associated with neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, gut microbiota function, the tryptophan-kynurenine metabolic pathway, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Nevertheless, the pathogenesis of depression extends beyond brain dysfunction alone, involving other contributing mechanisms that can be modified by dietary patterns or specific nutrients. Consequently, further experimental studies evaluating different diets—specifically regarding macronutrient and micronutrient proportions—as well as long-term cohort studies, is necessary to explain these complex mechanisms and extend the findings to other food groups and dietary patterns.
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