Unraveling the Associations Between Diet and Mental Health

Mental disorders represent one of the ten leading causes of disease burden worldwide, with a striking increase in prevalence observed between 1990 and 2021. In 2021, more than one billion individuals were affected by mental disorders, with depressive and anxiety disorders representing the most prevalent conditions, according to estimates from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Despite the availability of effective prevention and treatment strategies, mental disorders continue to represent a significant burden of disability across the lifespan. Notwithstanding the fact that mental disorders can be prevented and treated by modifying risk factors and by advances in therapy, they continue to represent a significant burden of disability across the lifespan. It is therefore incumbent upon scientists to generate more high-quality evidence to enable health systems and governments to implement effective preventive and therapeutic programs to address this global health problem.

The objective of this Research Topic is to provide scientific evidence on the associations/effects between dietary patterns or nutritional strategies and mental health outcomes throughout the life cycle. This endeavor falls within the domain of nutritional epidemiology.

To achieve this objective, studies employing a variety of research designs, including experimental (pre-post, quasi-experimental, RCT), observational (cross-sectional, prospective/retrospective, case-control), and synthesis of available evidence (mini-reviews, narrative reviews, umbrella reviews, systematic reviews) are welcomed. These studies must analyze the role of dietary patterns on a range of mental health outcomes, including, but not limited to, self-concept, self-perception, positive affect, life satisfaction, cognitive function, well-being, negative affect, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, disordered eating, psychological distress, sleep disorders, neurocognitive disorders, stressor-related disorders, and eating disorders.

The editors of this Research Topic welcome the submission of experimental articles, reviews, and observational studies that contribute to the scientific understanding of the relationship between dietary patterns and mental health outcomes.

In particular, the editors encourage submissions that focus on, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

• Associations between dietary patterns (e.g., Atlantic, Plant-Based, Mediterranean, Planetary Health) or consumption of specific foods (e.g., fruits, nuts, whole grains, sugar-sweetened) and mental health outcomes.
• Relationships between eating habits (e.g., family meals, frequency of breakfast consumption, meal duration) and mental health outcomes.
• Impact of diet interventions on mental health outcomes.
• Clinical nutrition exploring the role of gut microbiome, inflammatory biomarkers, and other potential mediators on mental health.

In addition, studies examining diet in conjunction with other lifestyle-related behaviors, including physical activity, sedentary behaviors, social network use, and sleep, and their impact on mental health outcomes, will be considered for review.

Keywords:
Diet, Food, Nutrition, Mental Disorders, Psychological Well-Being

Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Mental disorders represent one of the ten leading causes of disease burden worldwide, with a striking increase in prevalence observed between 1990 and 2021. In 2021, more than one billion individuals were affected by mental disorders, with depressive and anxiety disorders representing the most prevalent conditions, according to estimates from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Despite the availability of effective prevention and treatment strategies, mental disorders continue to represent a significant burden of disability across the lifespan. Notwithstanding the fact that mental disorders can be prevented and treated by modifying risk factors and by advances in therapy, they continue to represent a significant burden of disability across the lifespan. It is therefore incumbent upon scientists to generate more high-quality evidence to enable health systems and governments to implement effective preventive and therapeutic programs to address this global health problem.

The objective of this Research Topic is to provide scientific evidence on the associations/effects between dietary patterns or nutritional strategies and mental health outcomes throughout the life cycle. This endeavor falls within the domain of nutritional epidemiology.

To achieve this objective, studies employing a variety of research designs, including experimental (pre-post, quasi-experimental, RCT), observational (cross-sectional, prospective/retrospective, case-control), and synthesis of available evidence (mini-reviews, narrative reviews, umbrella reviews, systematic reviews) are welcomed. These studies must analyze the role of dietary patterns on a range of mental health outcomes, including, but not limited to, self-concept, self-perception, positive affect, life satisfaction, cognitive function, well-being, negative affect, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, disordered eating, psychological distress, sleep disorders, neurocognitive disorders, stressor-related disorders, and eating disorders.

The editors of this Research Topic welcome the submission of experimental articles, reviews, and observational studies that contribute to the scientific understanding of the relationship between dietary patterns and mental health outcomes.

In particular, the editors encourage submissions that focus on, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

• Associations between dietary patterns (e.g., Atlantic, Plant-Based, Mediterranean, Planetary Health) or consumption of specific foods (e.g., fruits, nuts, whole grains, sugar-sweetened) and mental health outcomes.
• Relationships between eating habits (e.g., family meals, frequency of breakfast consumption, meal duration) and mental health outcomes.
• Impact of diet interventions on mental health outcomes.
• Clinical nutrition exploring the role of gut microbiome, inflammatory biomarkers, and other potential mediators on mental health.

In addition, studies examining diet in conjunction with other lifestyle-related behaviors, including physical activity, sedentary behaviors, social network use, and sleep, and their impact on mental health outcomes, will be considered for review.

Keywords:
Diet, Food, Nutrition, Mental Disorders, Psychological Well-Being

Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.