The field of psycho-nutrition has been developed with the emergence of the protective role of healthy diets, reduced energy consumption and different fasting regimens on mental health.
Calorie restriction (CR) and different fasting regimens have been considered the most effective non-pharmacological intervention to improve cardiovascular and metabolic health. However, their effects on mental health show controversial results since its effects vary according to the intensity, duration, and the period of CR/fasting. Indeed, while many studies have shown that CR increases quality of life and reduces risk factors for psychiatric diseases (e.g., depression), excessive CR has been shown to impair cognitive abilities and quality of life, and thereby lead to negative mood states. Similarly, research suggests that reducing dietary fat may have adverse effects on mood. However, adopting type of prudent diets (e.g., Mediterranean, MIND, DASH) emphasizing on healthy fats and healthy carbs can reduce depressive symptoms and enhance overall wellbeing. In parallel, fasting interventions are becoming more and more popular in the general population. Nevertheless, previous trials exploring the effect of therapeutic fasting (or very low-caloric fasting) on mental health showed inconsistent results. Fasting was found to be either associated with subjective psychological improvement or with worsened mood and increased depression.
Taken together, the psychological safety of many of the above-mentioned regimens may be limitations to the development of healthy diet interventions for general and athletic populations. It is still unclear if fasting and/or CR interventions may decrease or increase depressive symptoms. Similarly, the link between CR and various fasting regimens, gut-brain axis and mental health are not well investigated. Another remaining question is that many dietary interventions combine two or more regimens (e.g., fasting + caloric restriction), and there is a debate regarding the true effective intervention in terms of improving depressive symptoms and mental wellbeing. Further, the connection between diet, exercise, sleep, and stress is still unclear specifically in athletic populations already under competitive stress. Additionally, epidemiological data highlight the association between diet and mental health on different body systems but provide little information about causality, bidirectional interactions and underlying mechanisms.
This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive view of studies related to the bidirectional interactions between nutrition and mental health. In this context the topic focuses on observational and interventional studies investigating the effects of CR, different fasting regimens and prudent diets (e.g., Mediterranean, MIND, DASH) on mental health, behavior and sleep quality of general population, athletes and patients. The topic considers also the effect of various psychiatric conditions on CR and diet. A better understanding of such psychological effects will help to optimize the practice of these different regimes and maximize their health benefits.
Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, narrative and scoping reviews, original research, methods, mini-reviews, perspectives, and opinion articles addressing various aspects of nutritional psychiatry are welcome.
The field of psycho-nutrition has been developed with the emergence of the protective role of healthy diets, reduced energy consumption and different fasting regimens on mental health.
Calorie restriction (CR) and different fasting regimens have been considered the most effective non-pharmacological intervention to improve cardiovascular and metabolic health. However, their effects on mental health show controversial results since its effects vary according to the intensity, duration, and the period of CR/fasting. Indeed, while many studies have shown that CR increases quality of life and reduces risk factors for psychiatric diseases (e.g., depression), excessive CR has been shown to impair cognitive abilities and quality of life, and thereby lead to negative mood states. Similarly, research suggests that reducing dietary fat may have adverse effects on mood. However, adopting type of prudent diets (e.g., Mediterranean, MIND, DASH) emphasizing on healthy fats and healthy carbs can reduce depressive symptoms and enhance overall wellbeing. In parallel, fasting interventions are becoming more and more popular in the general population. Nevertheless, previous trials exploring the effect of therapeutic fasting (or very low-caloric fasting) on mental health showed inconsistent results. Fasting was found to be either associated with subjective psychological improvement or with worsened mood and increased depression.
Taken together, the psychological safety of many of the above-mentioned regimens may be limitations to the development of healthy diet interventions for general and athletic populations. It is still unclear if fasting and/or CR interventions may decrease or increase depressive symptoms. Similarly, the link between CR and various fasting regimens, gut-brain axis and mental health are not well investigated. Another remaining question is that many dietary interventions combine two or more regimens (e.g., fasting + caloric restriction), and there is a debate regarding the true effective intervention in terms of improving depressive symptoms and mental wellbeing. Further, the connection between diet, exercise, sleep, and stress is still unclear specifically in athletic populations already under competitive stress. Additionally, epidemiological data highlight the association between diet and mental health on different body systems but provide little information about causality, bidirectional interactions and underlying mechanisms.
This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive view of studies related to the bidirectional interactions between nutrition and mental health. In this context the topic focuses on observational and interventional studies investigating the effects of CR, different fasting regimens and prudent diets (e.g., Mediterranean, MIND, DASH) on mental health, behavior and sleep quality of general population, athletes and patients. The topic considers also the effect of various psychiatric conditions on CR and diet. A better understanding of such psychological effects will help to optimize the practice of these different regimes and maximize their health benefits.
Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, narrative and scoping reviews, original research, methods, mini-reviews, perspectives, and opinion articles addressing various aspects of nutritional psychiatry are welcome.