Summary:
Mood and anxiety-related disorders are a major global health concern, with depression, bipolar disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder among the most commonly diagnosed. Although they are often grouped together in research, they involve a wide range of symptoms and underlying biological mechanisms. First-line treatment has mainly focused on psychotherapy and medication-based approaches. However, recent evidence suggests that modifiable lifestyle factors, particularly diet, may also play an important role. Poor dietary patterns, especially those high in ultra-processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats, are associated with an increased risk of these disorders, while healthier dietary patterns rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats are linked with better mental health outcomes and reduced symptom severity. These dietary patterns may influence key biological processes involved in brain health, including inflammation and neuroplasticity. This study is a narrative review that synthesises existing evidence to examine how diet may influence brain function and mental health. It aims to identify possible neurobiological pathways linking nutrition with mood and anxiety-related disorders and outline directions for future research. A key concept in this study is allostatic load, which refers to the cumulative burden on the body when the stress response is repeatedly activated. Diet appears to influence this process, with poor-quality diets associated with increased inflammation, metabolic strain, and disruptions in hormonal and stress regulation systems, all of which contribute to a higher overall physiological burden. Over time, continued activation of these systems may reduce the body’s ability to adapt to stress and maintain internal balance. The study also links allostatic load to changes in two key brain networks: the salience network and the default mode network. The salience network helps detect and prioritise important internal and external information, while the default mode network is involved in internal thought processes such as self-reflection and daydreaming. Evidence shows that both the structure and connectivity of these networks can be altered in individuals with higher allostatic load, as well as in those with mood and anxiety-related disorders. These findings suggest that long-term stress and lifestyle factors such as diet may influence mental health by affecting how these brain networks function. In addition, the study highlights that specific nutrients, including B-vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids, may support brain health by reducing inflammation and supporting neuroplasticity. Overall, the study proposes that nutrition may influence mental health through its effects on stress regulation, inflammation, and brain network function. The authors emphasise the need for further research to clarify these relationships and to explore how dietary strategies could be incorporated into mental health care.
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Abstract:
Accumulating evidence indicates that diet and nutrition are important modifiable risk factors for the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. However, the neural mechanisms underlying nutrition’s effects on mental health remain to be well established. The interdisciplinary field of nutritional cognitive neuroscience integrates methods across the nutritional, cognitive, and brain sciences to understand nutrition’s impact on brain health across the lifespan, with recent applications to the study of mood and anxiety-related disorders. In this focused review, we begin by investigating the neural mechanisms underlying mood and anxiety-related disorders, surveying evidence of alterations within specific structural and functional networks. We then review emerging evidence to suggest that the structure and function of these networks are influenced by specific nutrients that may confer beneficial effects, including B vitamins, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids. In this effort, we highlight plausible biological pathways through which diet may influence mood and anxiety-related disorders. We conclude by presenting directions for future research, emphasizing the need for dietary interventions that incorporate contemporary methods from cognitive neuroscience and nutritional epidemiology to promote brain health and reduce the risk of mental illness.
Article Publication Date: 17/04/2026
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-food-052824-043906
