AN OVERVIEW OF DIET AND MENTAL IINESS
Mental illness includes depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s
disease, migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and so on. Presently they're all treated with
medicines and given psychotherapy. However, treatment is not successful in many cases. Studies
suggest that they may also require lifestyle modifications particularly improvement in diet quality.
Chronic, low grade inflammation characterized by an elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokines and
acute phase proteins is implicated in the development de novo depression, schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder. Studies have shown that lifestyle modification require particularly in diet.
Observational studies show that healthy dietary patterns like Mediterranean diet with high PUFAs,
fibre, fruits and vegetables are associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers.
In schizophrenic patients, oxidative and nitrosative stress are implicated with higher levels of
oxidative stress markers observed, low levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, Coenzyme
Q, and glutathione when compared with healthy controls. Consumption of fruits and vegetables rich
in antioxidants may be beneficial.
Neurogenesis, particularly within the hippocampus is associated with learning, memory, and mood
relation, while altered neurogenesis implicated in mental illness. In addition, to possessing nutrients
such as w-3-fatty acids, polyphenols, L-theanine and vitamin E can stimulate neurogenesis while
energy dense diets high in fat and sugar impair this process.
The gastrointestinal microbiota has been implicated in several neurobiological pathways related to
mental illness. Diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy gastrointestinal microbiota.
Studies have shown that high Fiber diets and Mediterranean diets, promote a diverse gut microbiota
and are associated with a reduced likelihood of depression. In addition, fermented foods may also
have potential to modify the gut microbiota and to alter gut physiology and mental health. Thus, it is
clear that gut health influences mental health.
Studies in adults have shown that there is inverse relationship between dietary patterns having high
intake of fruit, vegetable, whole grain, fish, olive oil, fat, dairy products and increase the risk of
depression with high consumption of red processed meat, refined grains, sweets and high fat dairy
products have been observed. Diet is likely related to mental health at all stages of life.
GENE-DIET INTERACTIONS IN BRAIN AGEING AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
Dietary factors may interact with disease-causing or predisposing genes in molecular case that either
promote or prevent the degeneration of neurons. Epidemiologic findings suggest that high-calorie
diets and folic acid deficiency increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Studies of animal models of these disorders have shown that dietary restriction (reduced calorie
intake or intermittent fasting) and dietary supplementation with folic acid can reduce neuronal
damage and improve behavioural outcome. By keeping homocysteine levels low, folic acid can
protect cerebral vessels and prevent the accumulation of DNA damage in neurons caused by
oxidative stress.
The emerging data suggest that high calorie diets and elevated homocysteine levels may render the
brain vulnerable to age-related neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in persons with a genetic
predisposition to such disorders.
Mental illness includes depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s
disease, migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and so on. Presently they're all treated with
medicines and given psychotherapy. However, treatment is not successful in many cases. Studies
suggest that they may also require lifestyle modifications particularly improvement in diet quality.
Chronic, low grade inflammation characterized by an elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokines and
acute phase proteins is implicated in the development de novo depression, schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder. Studies have shown that lifestyle modification require particularly in diet.
Observational studies show that healthy dietary patterns like Mediterranean diet with high PUFAs,
fibre, fruits and vegetables are associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers.
In schizophrenic patients, oxidative and nitrosative stress are implicated with higher levels of
oxidative stress markers observed, low levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, Coenzyme
Q, and glutathione when compared with healthy controls. Consumption of fruits and vegetables rich
in antioxidants may be beneficial.
Neurogenesis, particularly within the hippocampus is associated with learning, memory, and mood
relation, while altered neurogenesis implicated in mental illness. In addition, to possessing nutrients
such as w-3-fatty acids, polyphenols, L-theanine and vitamin E can stimulate neurogenesis while
energy dense diets high in fat and sugar impair this process.
The gastrointestinal microbiota has been implicated in several neurobiological pathways related to
mental illness. Diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy gastrointestinal microbiota.
Studies have shown that high Fiber diets and Mediterranean diets, promote a diverse gut microbiota
and are associated with a reduced likelihood of depression. In addition, fermented foods may also
have potential to modify the gut microbiota and to alter gut physiology and mental health. Thus, it is
clear that gut health influences mental health.
Studies in adults have shown that there is inverse relationship between dietary patterns having high
intake of fruit, vegetable, whole grain, fish, olive oil, fat, dairy products and increase the risk of
depression with high consumption of red processed meat, refined grains, sweets and high fat dairy
products have been observed. Diet is likely related to mental health at all stages of life.
GENE-DIET INTERACTIONS IN BRAIN AGEING AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
Dietary factors may interact with disease-causing or predisposing genes in molecular case that either
promote or prevent the degeneration of neurons. Epidemiologic findings suggest that high-calorie
diets and folic acid deficiency increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Studies of animal models of these disorders have shown that dietary restriction (reduced calorie
intake or intermittent fasting) and dietary supplementation with folic acid can reduce neuronal
damage and improve behavioural outcome. By keeping homocysteine levels low, folic acid can
protect cerebral vessels and prevent the accumulation of DNA damage in neurons caused by
oxidative stress.
The emerging data suggest that high calorie diets and elevated homocysteine levels may render the
brain vulnerable to age-related neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in persons with a genetic
predisposition to such disorders.
