Abstract
A good nutritional status is important for maintaining normal body function and preventing or mitigating the dysfunction induced by internal or external factors. Nutritional deficiencies often result in impaired function, and, conversely, intakes at recommended levels can resume or further enhance body functions. An increasing number of studies are revealing that diet and nutrition are critical not only for physiology and body composition, but also have significant effects on mood and mental well-being. In particular, Western dietary habits have been the object of several research studies focusing on the relationship between nutrition and mental health. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the relationship between the intake of specific micro- and macronutrients, including eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, alpha-tocopherol, magnesium and folic acid, and mental health, with particular reference to their beneficial effect on stress, sleep disorders, anxiety, mild cognitive impairment, as well as on neuropsychiatric disorders, all significantly affecting the quality of life of an increasing number of people. Overall data support a positive role for the nutrients mentioned above in the preservation of normal brain function and mental well-being, also through the control of neuroinflammation, and encourage their integration in a well-balanced and varied diet, accompanied by a healthy lifestyle. This strategy is of particular importance when considering the global human aging and that the brain suffers significantly from the life-long impact of stress factors.
Highlights
A healthy dietary pattern can affect mental health and well-being through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neurogenesis, microbiome- and immune-modifying mechanisms, as well as through epigenetic modifications [1]
A comprehensive search and critical review have been conducted in PubMed database using the keywords stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), depression, bipolar disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, neuroinflammation, inflammation, associated with the nutrients alpha-tocopherol, folic acid/folate, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) through the use of the Boolean operators AND, OR, identifying the articles relevant to this review
A personalized medicine approach has been proposed in the field of nutrition applied to mental well-being, based on the assessment of specific biomarkers to determine the individual macro- and micronutrient requirements [90]
Summary
A healthy dietary pattern can affect mental health and well-being through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neurogenesis, microbiome- and immune-modifying mechanisms, as well as through epigenetic modifications [1]. In addition to a healthy and balanced diet, the supplementation of micronutrients (e.g., vitamins and minerals) and macronutrients (e.g., fatty acids) can provide several beneficial effects, due to their multiple biological roles [3]. This narrative review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the relationship between the intake of specific nutrients, including the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), alpha-tocopherol, magnesium and folic acid, and Nutrients, Mental Health, and Well-Being the beneficial effect on mental health and well-being (Figure 1). Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been prioritized in the selection of research studies to be reviewed; some pre-clinical studies in animal models of disease have been discussed as well
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