This is one of the first randomized controlled trials to show that healthy dietary changes are achievable and, supplemented with fish oil, can improve mental health in people with depression.
The important role of diet in cardiometabolic health is generally well recognised; for mental health, it is not so well understood. However, lifestyle risk factors for poor physical health are the same risk factors for mental illness, including poor diet. This is reflected by the high level of poor physical health in people with mental illness. Mediterranean, whole food diets have been associated with reduced risk for chronic disease, but very little research has investigated their mental health benefits. We provide a model for the pathways by which food components provided by a Mediterranean-style diet can facilitate healthy brain function. We then review evidence for the role of selected nutrients/food components -antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins -in the brain and, hence, modulation of cognitive function and mental health. Converging evidence indicates multiple pathways by which these nutrients can assist in brain function, drawing from studies investigating them in isolation. There is very little work done on synergistic actions of nutrients and whole diets, highlighting a need for human intervention studies investigating benefits of Mediterranean-style diets for mental, as well as cardiometabolic health.
ABSTRACTDietary risk factors for cardiometabolic health are generally well recognised; for mental
Although there are a number of gaps in the scientific literature to date, existing evidence suggests that a combination of healthful dietary practices may reduce the risk of developing depression. It is imperative to remain mindful of any protective effects that are likely to come from the cumulative and synergic effect of nutrients that comprise the whole-diet, rather than from the effects of individual nutrients or single foods. As the body of evidence grows from controlled intervention studies on dietary patterns and depression, these recommendations should be modified accordingly.
Socioeconomically disadvantaged children are at higher risk of consuming poor diets, in particular less fruits and vegetables and more non-core foods and sweetened beverages. Currently the drivers of socioeconomically related differences in children's dietary intake are not well understood. This systematic review explored whether dietary predictors vary for children of different socioeconomic circumstances. Seven databases and reference lists of included material were searched for studies investigating predictors of 9-13-year-old children's diet in relation to socioeconomic position. Individual- and population-based cross-sectional, cohort and epidemiological studies published in English and conducted in developed countries were included. Twenty-eight studies were included in this review; most were conducted in Europe (n = 12) or North America (n = 10). The most frequently used indicators of socioeconomic position were parent education and occupation. Predictors of children's dietary intake varied among children of different socioeconomic circumstances. Socioeconomic position was consistently associated with children's nutrition knowledge, parent modelling, home food availability and accessibility. Indeterminate associations with socioeconomic position were observed for parent feeding practices and food environment near school. Differences in the determinants of eating between socioeconomic groups provide a better understanding of the drivers of socioeconomic disparities in dietary intake, and how to develop targeted intervention strategies.
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