In 21st-century public health, mental health disorders are a growing global concern. The relationship between diet, brain function and the risk of mental disorders has been the subject of intense research in recent years. It's extremely important that experts in the fields of psychiatry and public health recognize the undeniable link between mental health and diet and nutrition. In the last few years, significant links have been established between nutritional quality and mental health. Scientifically rigorous studies have made important contributions to our understanding of the role of nutrition in mental health. Another systematic review published in late 2014 has also confirmed a relationship between "unhealthy" dietary patterns and poor mental health in children and teens.
Maternal and early-life nutrition is also emerging as a factor in mental health outcomes in children, while severe deficiencies in some essential nutrients during critical developmental periods have long been implicated in the development of both depressive and psychotic disorders. The dietary intake pattern of the general population in many Asian countries reflects that they are often deficient in many nutrients, especially essential vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Nutrition is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology and gastroenterology.
When we take a close look at the diet of depressed people, an interesting observation is that their nutrition is far from adequate. They make poor food choices and selecting foods that might actually contribute to depression.
Studies show that many of these nutrients have a clear link to brain health, including omega-3s, B vitamins (particularly folate and B12), choline, iron, zinc, magnesium, methionine, vitamin D, and amino acids. Most of these are available in healthy diets that include dark green leafy and orange-coloured and whole grains.
The most common nutritional deficiencies seen in patients with mental disorders are of omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are precursors to neurotransmitters.
The significance of various nutrients in mental health
Research findings point out that an imbalance in the ratio of the EFAs, namely the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, may be responsible for the heightened depressive symptoms associated with low plasma cholesterol. These findings indicate that the nature of polyunsaturated fatty acids (in particular omega-3) present in formula milks for infants (both premature and term) determines the visual, cerebral, and intellectual abilities.
According to a study reported in the Neuropsychobiology, supplementation of nine vitamins, 10 times in excess of normal recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for 1 (one) year improved mood in both men and women. This mood improvement was particularly associated with improved vitamin B2 and B6 status. In women, baseline vitamin B1 status was linked with poor mood and an improvement in the same after 3 months was associated with improved mood.
Clinical trials have indicated that Vitamin B12 delays the onset of signs of dementia. Iodine plays an important role in mental health. The iodine provided by the thyroid hormone ensures the energy metabolism of the cerebral cells. During pregnancy, the dietary reduction of iodine induces severe cerebral dysfunction, eventually leading to cretinism. Iron is necessary for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and myelin. Iron deficiency is found in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. These indicate the possible importance of iron in the etiology of depression since its deficiency is known to cause fatigue and depression.
At least five studies have shown that zinc levels are lower in those with clinical depression. Zinc also protects the brain cells against the potential damage caused by free radicals.
Over the past several years, there has been a rapid growth in high-quality research related to nutrition and mental health. An area that has suffered neglect is finally starting to take shape, albeit in a preliminary fashion. The relationships between healthy dietary habits and mental health are obviously complex. They weave their way through many aspects of modern technology and culture. We hope that this will be the legacy of the field of nutritional psychiatry. Clearly, there have been exciting advances in nutritional psychiatry research.
The overall findings make it clear that nutrition matters in mental health. So it is time for clinicians to consider diet and additional nutrients as part of the treating package to manage the enormous burden of mental ill health and also it is time to advocate for a more integrative approach to psychiatry, with diet and nutrition as key elements.
The writer is a nutritionist. E-mail: fahmidahashem60@gmail.com
Role of nutrition in mental health
Fahmida Hashem | Published: June 20, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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